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®- __® 

THE 

PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN! 

OR, 

THE DEVOUT PENITENT. 



BOOK OF DEVOTION, 



CONTAINING 

THE WHOLE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN, IN ALL OCCASIONS 
AND NECESSITIES. 



FITTED TO THE MAIN USES OF A HOLY LIFE. 



R. SHERLOCK, D. D. 

LATE RECTOR OF WINWICK. 
/ 7 "WITH A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR BY THE 

RT. REV. THOMAS WILSON, D. D., 

AUTHOR OF SACRA PRIVATA, ETC. ETC. 



FROM THE SEVENTH ENGLISH EDITION. 



NEW-YORK : 

D. APPLET ON & CO., 20 BROADWAY. 
PHILADELPHIA: 

GEO. S. APPLETON, 14S CHESNUT-STREET . 
MDCCCXLIII. 

® — 



©- 



-® 



•5« 




J. F. TROW, PR 



or 



®- 



-© 




THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



Bishop Wilson has furnished us with what he calls '* A 
short Account of the Author of the Following Devotions," 
and in his letter to the Printer, (page 13,) he gives us the 
reason of its brevity. As this reason still holds, no attempt 
has been made to enlarge his account, though some additional 
particulars, gathered chiefly from works already published, 
have been annexed to it, in the shape of notes. 

The Bishop's u short account," however, is amply suf- 
ficient to impress us w T ith a wondrous idea of the singular 
excellency of Dr. Sherlock's character. Pure and unaffect- 
ed piety, charity at once comprehensive and discriminating, 
a daily self-denial and bearing of the cross, a noble superior- 
ity to the world, an ever-burning and ever-active zeal for his 
Master's glory, an unshaken fidelity to the Church not only 
in the season of her prosperity, but also in the dark days of 
her adversity, an intellect holding in vigorous grasp the 
great principles of Catholic Truth, a moral energy realizing 
these principles deep in the inner man and exhibiting them 
in outward conduct "beautiful exceedingly," — such are some 
of the most prominent features of his character, as drawn 
in life-like form by the pen of his Episcopal biographer. 

Almost all Dr. Sherlock's published works find a brief 
notice in the account of his life. Those left unnoticed are, 



®- 



© 



® — . — ® 

iv THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 

A Visitation Sermon preached at Warrington, A. D. 1669, 
from Acts xx. 28, and published in London the same year ; 
and a volume of " Short Discourses touching Common and 
Private Prayer, relating to the Public Offices of the Church," 
published at Oxford, 1684. 

At page 26, of the Life, we find his biographer alluding 
to the "excellent answers" returned by the author, to cer- 
tain persons of note in the Church of Rome, who had writ- 
ten to him " after they had been perverted to that Commun- 
ion." It was the lot of Dr. Sherlock, as it has been and still 
is the lot of many others, who like him have imbibed the 
Catholic spirit that pervades our Church Liturgy, to be ac- 
cused of being " a Papist in disguise." This was said of him, 
as Bishop Wilson tells us, " by both Papists and Dissenters, 
and," he adds, "both had the same end in propagating the 
calumny, the disservice of that Church, which he adorned 
by his most exemplary life." One would charitably hope, 
that only a few of those who allowed themselves to propa- 
gate this calumny, did so knowingly : the majority most 
probably, as in our day, were unwittingly deceived into it, 
either from ignorance, or prejudice — some one or more of the 
idola specus, or, which is more generally the case, from a 
want of the habit of discrimination. Of this latter class, ap- 
pear to have been the persons alluded to in Dr. Sherlock's 
Life, who, having themselves joined the Romish Commun- 
ion, seem to have been honestly desirous of inducing him to 
follow their example, and wrote to him accordingly. His 
answers however showed them, that he was "no favourer of 
their errors." A Catholic he was, a Papist he could not be. 
It is much to be regretted that no trace of his answers to 
them now remain. They would doubtless have afforded a 
refreshing contrast to those sweeping, uncourteous, not to say 
unchristian, modes of attack, with which it has been of 
late the fashion to assail the members of the Romish Church. 
" The Practical Christian," the seventh edition of which 
is now submitted to the reader, is by far the most important 



® ® 

THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. V 

of all Dr. Sherlock's works. It was a work of gradual growth 
and progressive enlargment; and as we have his biographer's 
testimony to the fact, that he made it the model of his own 
Devotions — u strictly observing himself, what he so earnestly 
recommended to others," its history becomes at once interest- 
ing and instructive. 

Among the many miseries attending the Great Rebellion, 
when the Church had become the prey of her enemies — 
a riven and strewn abroad, under the rude and wasteful sky," 
not the least was the neglect it occasioned of systematically 
inculcating the principles of our holy religion. No sooner 
however was the Church restored, than Dr. Sherlock, who 
was now a partaker of her prosperity, as before he had been 
of her sufferings, set himself diligently to remedy this evil. 
For this purpose he composed and published a short and 
plain Paraphrase upon the Church Catechism, being con- 
vinced that this excellent formula, " though" (to quote his 
own words) u by a strange fanatic humour it be slighted, and 
by self-conceited persons derided, yet contains all things 
both of faith and fact necessary to salvation, being rightly? 
clearly, and fully understood." This Tract carries with it 
the written recommendation of Dr. Hammond, as being a 
work " of use and profit ;" and so popular did it become, 
that in a few years it ran through nineteen editions. 

Having in this little work furnished his people with what 
he calls " A Summary of Christian Doctrine," feeling that 
the knowledge of high and holy doctrines unless accom- 
panied by a corresponding high and holy practice, would be 
likely to prove a curse rather than a blessing, his next step 
was to compose for them U A Summary of Christian Prac- 
tice," and his labours herein ended not until all the four parts 
of his "Practical Christian" had successively appeared. 
The first edition of this work appearded in 1673, under the 
title " Mercurius Christianus, or the Practical Christian, a 
Treatise explaining the Duty of Self-examination, &c." His 
primary intention in it, " being chiefly to direct his parish- 

® ® 



®- ® 

vi THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 

ioners for the worthy receiving the Holy Communion of the 
Body and Blood of Christ, whereunto a thorough self-exam- 
ination is absolutely necessary." Afterwards, " being desired 
to enlarge his meditations upon that blessed Sacrament," he 
divided the first edition into two parts, the first treating of 
self-examination, and the second, of the Holy Communion of 
the Body and Blood of Christ. 

Though his "Summary" was thus enlarged, he still felt 
it to be deficient and imperfect. As we have said, he made 
it the model of his own devotions, and this led him to dis- 
cover its deficiencies. He found that his soul " gasping unto 
God as a thirsty land," needed refreshments it contained not, 
"green pastures" which it told not of. And thus he be- 
comes to us another remarkable instance of the truth, that 
when once the soul becomes " athirst for God," its cravings 
cannot be satisfied, until it has embraced the Catholic system 
in the whole length and breadth of it. To borrow from St. 
Austin 1 , " God made us for Himself, and our heart is restless 
until it repose in Him." In the teachings, in the rites, above 
all, in the Holy Sacraments of the Church Catholic, heaven- 
taught souls may realize "the Presence of an eternal loveli- 
ness," even the all-pervading Spirit of Him in Whom 
" dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Here may 
those who have implicitly yielded themselves to the Church's 
teaching, thrown themselves confidingly upon her, here may 
they see "Him Who is invisible," and find " Him Whom 
their soul longeth after." So at least was it with Dr. Sher- 
lock. Self-denial, the rigid practice of self-examination, and 
even the devout receiving of the Holy Eucharist, that highest 
and best of all the means appointed for making us "par- 
takers of the divine nature," left him still restless and un- 
satisfied. And why ? An important element in the Catholic 
system had not yet been acted out, — the Church's "hours of 
prayer" had not been kept. He had been taught however 

1) " Fecisti nos ad Te, et inquietum est cor nostrum, donee requiescat 
inTe." Confess, lib. i. c. 1. 

I 

@_ ® 



® — ® 

the editor's preface. vii 

in the spirit of obedience, to inquire after " the old paths:" 
and led on by the same spirit, he rested not until in this as in 
other matters, he had made his practice and that of the an- 
cient Church coincident. Here he found " rest for his soul," 
and having himself experienced the great advantage of ob- 
serving the canonical hours of prayer, he was desirous of 
making his people acquainted with it also. With this view 
he published a second Volume of his Practical Christian, the 
third and fourth parts ; the third part containing Meditations 
and Psalms relating to the hours of prayer ; and the fourth 
part, being Meditations on the four last things — Death, Judg- 
ment, Hell, and Heaven. 

This second Volume appeared first in 1675. In a long and 
able Preface showing the great benefits to be derived from 
observing the stated hours for prayer, the Author gives the 
following reason, for adding so many Psalms to every chapter 
of Meditations : " To recall, if possible, the devotions of the 
present times, to the ancient and sure way of religious exer- 
cise, which was and is still, by all sound and orthodox reli- 
gious, in the devout use of the Psalms of David.". The 
neglect, or, at least, the disparagement which the Psalms of 
David now meet with from many really religious people, 
shows that we too need to be recalled " to the ancient and 
sure way of religious exercise." Even in our public worship, 
the inspired " Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs," which 
God has graciously provided for us, are too often made to 
give place to hymns composed by private men, hymns not 
only uninspired, but also unsanctioned by the Church. The 
irreverent, unchastened tone of far too many of these hymns, 
tends to nourish habits of feeling utterly at variance with 
that deep spirit of " reverential awe" which pervades the 
Psalms, and which, as in the Church, it seems to be one 
great object of the Psalms to instil into us. How much of 
that sectarian hue which so Unhappily and withal so deeply 
tinges the religion of the day, is owing to the use of such 
uninspired and unauthorized hymns, cannot, we think, easily 

® -® 



® _____ ® 

viii the editor's preface. 

be told. But surely as in other matters, so in this : we cannot 
diverge "from the ancient paths," to walk " in a way not 
cast up 1 ," without sooner or later, somehow or other, reaping 
the bitter fruits of our own self-willedness. 

Such then is the history of the "Practical Christian," and 
it were needless to attempt any more formal statement either 
of its nature or design. It was written, as we have seen, 
mainly with the view of guarding against those evils, which 
are always sure to follow from a theoretical knowledge of 
religious doctrines, unaccompanied by habits of practical 
obedience. It may not be saying too much, if we add, that 
we of this day (especially the younger of us) have great 
reason to guard against the evils to which we allude. 

It has pleased God, and sufficiently thankful we cannot 
be, to recall our attention to many doctrines, which have lain 
so long dormant, as to to have become almost forgotten. 
These doctrines, holy and awfully mysterious as they are, will 
most certainly work injury rather than good, in all minds 
where they are taken up as a theory and nothing more. Un- 
less received with a spirit of reverence and godly fear, like 
the "pillar of the cloud/' instead of being "light" to us, 
they will only be as " a cloud and darkness 2 ." Like all other 
of God's gifts, they have in them a weal and a wo ; a weal 
to those who are " doers of the word," a wo to those who 
are " hearers only." The doctrines alluded to, cannot fail of 
exciting in our minds impressions and emotions, correspond- 
ing, in some measure at least, to their own sublime import. 
If however this be all, if these impressions be allowed to die 
away, as in time they will and must 3 , without leading us 
actively to practise those duties to which they point ; then 
will they have exerted on our moral feelings only an indu- 
rating and withering power, leaving us but the more firmly 
bound down — " of the earth earthy." Our only safeguard 
lies in diligently using every means God in His mercy has 

1) Jer. xviii. 15. 2) Gen. xiv. 20. 3) Vid. Butler's Anal, part i. 

chap. 5. 

<•> © 



® . ® 

the editor's preface. ix 

vouchsafed to us, to nourish in ourselves the spirit of reve- 
rence, and to form ourselves to habits of obedience. Habits 
of humility, of purity, of self-denial, of self-distrust, of re- 
serve — such habits generated and quickened by cordial love 
to God, make up the temper which such doctrines are de- 
signed and fitted to work in us. These habits, however, are 
as tender plants of slow growth, and need all the help and 
protection of which we can avail ourselves. As a powerful 
help in the formation of such habits, the work now repub- 
lished offers itself to our notice. It has had the benefit of 
being tried. Bishop Wilson informs us, that the circulation 
of this book, combined with that of the Paraphrase on 
the Catechism, amongst the parishioners of Winwick, soon 
produced " such a number of constant, devout communi- 
cants, as at that time were hardly to be seen in any 
parish in England." There is no reason, why, with God's 
blessing, it should not again produce similar good effects — 
effects, be it observed, which are the surest indications of 
the existence of those moral habits of which we have been 
speaking. 

Its fitness then to mould us into habits of obedience, is the 
one great recommendation of the following work. As a 
witness to the doctrines held of old, as now, in the Church 
of England — and as affording proof, from its numerous 
appropriations of ancient prayers and Catholic Customs, 
that the devotional spirit of our Church is in harmony with 
that of the ancient Church, — it is also on both these accounts 
especially valuable. Like the very similar work of Bishop 
Cosin, it may serve " to let the world understand, that they 
who give it out and accuse us here in England, to have set 
up a new Church, and a new Faith, to have abandoned all 
the ancient forms of piety and devotion, to have taken away 
all the religious exercises and prayers of our forefathers, to 
have despised all the old ceremonies, and cast behind us the 
blessed Sacraments of Christ's Catholic Church — that these 
men do little else but betray their own infirmities, and have 

i ® 



® ® 

X THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 

more violence and will, than reason or judgment, for what 
they say 1 ." 

Those who have learned to thank God, for having given 
His Church the benefit of Bishop Wilson's truly apostolical 
example, will see in this work a yet further value. Its 
author was the Bishop's maternal uncle, and when it is 
remembered that Bishop Wilson's earliest years 2 were pass- 
ed under his uncle's roof, for the purpose of having his edu- 
cation superintended by him, and that afterwards, on his 
entering the Ministry, the first years of his Ministerial life 
were also passed there, in the capacity of Curate to one of 
his uncle's Chapelries — the Chapelry of Newchurch : it will 
not, we think, be doubted, that the instructions he there re- 
ceived, and the "primitive example" there set him, were, 
under God, mainly instrumental in giving to his character 
that tone and colouring, which have so justly made him the 
praise and glory of his age. The following devotions — living 
impressions, as it were, of the living mould — bring the tutor 
of Bishop Wilson again before us : and it may be devoutly 
hoped that as their author when living, succeeded in forming 
one of the noblest characters in the Church's modern Calen- 
dar, so now, though absent from us in body, this his work, 
instinct as it everywhere is with his own saintly spirit, may 
tend to produce many more such characters to the glory of 
God, and the edification of His Holy Church. 

When this work first appeared, it was stated in the 
title-page, that it was intended for the use of devout per- 
sons. It is now reprinted entire, without any alterations or 
omissions. 

The Editor trusts he may be pardoned, if, after having 

1) Bishop Cosin's Devotions. Preface. 

2) The circumstance of Bishop Wilson having been in early life edu- 
cated by Dr. Sherlock, is left unnoticed by his biographers. The Editor 
here inserts it upon the authority of his friend Mr. Henry Shaw, of Land- 
Gate, Ashton in Winwick ; one of whose maternal ancestors, Mr. John 
Sherlock (son of one of the Doctor's cousins), was Bishop Wilson's fellow- 
pupil, both having been educated together by Dr. Sherlock. 

®— ® 



-® 



THE EDITOR S PREFACE. XI 

obtained the sanction of the Head of the parish, and of the 
several Incumbents within its limits, he ventures most ear- 
nestly to recommend these Devotions to the parishioners of 
Winwick generally, and, more especially, to that portion of 
them residing within his own district of Brynn and Gars- 
wood. For the use of the parishioners of Winwick, these 
Devotions were originally composed ; and we are told by 
Bishop Wilson, that their author before he died had the 
satisfaction of" seeing many of them form their lives accord- 
ing to this model." May He " Who filleth all things living 
with plenteousness," grant their descendants grace to imitate 
their example ! In so doing they will be indeed " practising 
the Communion of Saints," and they will be also obeying 
the Divine command, " Stand ye in the ways, and see, and 
ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk 
therein, and ye shall find rest for vour souls 1 ." 

H. H. S. 
Ashton in Winwick, August. 5, 1840. 

1) Jer. vi. 16. 




-® 



-® 



Mr. HOLLAND : 

I send you a short account of Dr. Sherlock's life. If you 
think fit you may prefix it to his "Practical Christian," 
which you are going to reprint. This account might easily 
have been enlarged, but then it would not have been so 
agreeable to the character and modesty of the Doctor, who 
always declined being known any more than he was obliged 
by the duties of his calling; so that the blessing of a most 
exemplary life, was confined, for the most part, to the limits 
and observations of one single parish. 

That primitive method of devotion, which you are going 
to reprint, will need no better recommendation, than the good 
acceptance of the former impressions ; which, together with 
the testimony of those who know the advantage of observing 
the stated hours of prayer, will encourage you to hope that 
your undertaking may benefit both yourself and many others. 
I heartily wish it may do so, and remain 

Your affectionate friend, 

THOMAS SODOR AND MAN. 

Isle of Man, Sept. 23, 1712, 



m - — — — — ■ ■■• — 



-® 




A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. 



When writings of this kind either find or help to make 
us devout, we usually desire to know something of the au- 
thor of them. To gratify such into whose hands these 
14 Devotions" may fall, and to discharge (as far as this poor 
acknowledgment will go) a debt of gratitude, is the design of 
this short account of Dr. Richard Sherlock's life. 

He was born at Oxton in Wirral, in the county of Ches- 
ter, November 11, 1613, which village very sensibly feels the 
blessing of having been his birth-place ; where he has settled 
an uncommon, but very useful charity 1 . 

1 ; Oxton is in the parish of Woodchurch. In Woodchurch Church there 
is the following public record of two of Dr. Sherlock's charities ; the latter is 
the one to which his Biographer especially alludes. 

41 Richard Shirlock, Dr. of Divinity and Rector of Winwick, in his life 
time, in the year 1670, gave £50 to the poor of the parish of Woodchurch, 
the interest whereof to be laid out in bread and distrihuted amongst the poor 
of the said parish every Lord's Day, at the discretion of the Minister and 
Churchwardens for ever." 

" Richard Shirlock, Rector of Winwick aforesaid, anno 1677, gave to the 
Township of Oxton, the place of his birth, £50 to be laid out in cows for the 
poor of the said town, paying for every cow yearly, on St. Mark's Day, the 
sum of -2s. 6d., which said hire is to maintain and keep up the stock for ever " 

The above, as its orthography indicates, is a verbatim et literatim copy. 



•© 



®- — — _® 

Xvi SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

When I have said that he was born of very honest and 
religious parents, the pious reader will not be offended that he 
finds nothing more considerable in the account of his family 1 . 
That his parents were such, an especial instance of his 
mother's piety, will not be improper to be here mentioned ; 
because it is probable God blessed her with so worthy a son, 
to convince her and all that read this, that such as fear Him, 
and seek to avert His judgments, do never seek Him in 
vain. 

Her father, in his younger years had taken such liberties, 
as made her justly fear his offspring might hear of it another 
day : which affected her so sensibly, and especially after she 
became a mother of children herself, that she very often, 
and with tears begged of God to suspend His just declaration 
of " visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children unto 

1) Dr. Ormerod, in his History of Cheshire (vol. ii, p. 291), hazards the 
conjecture, that Dr. Sherlock " was most probably son of the Rector of 
Woodchurch, of the same name ;" and of this Richard Sherlock, the Rector 
he alludes to, he elsewhere states, that " he occurs in 1618, and dying the 
30th of August, was buried at Woodchurch, September 1, 1643." This last 
date shows that his conjecture is erroneous: for Bishop Wilson intimates 
that the mother of the younger Richard, was a widow previous to the com- 
mencement of his College education, and that he took his degree as early as 
1633, which is ten years before the death of that Rector. Still, as Oxton is 
part of that parish, and as the parent stock of the Sherlocks are said to 
have been located there for two centuries before the Doctor's time, it is 
highly probable that he was a near relative of that Rector ; and that such 
relationship was one link in the chain of causes, which providentially led to 
his being educated for the same profession. By the kindness of the present 
Rector of Woodchurch, it has been ascertained that the parish registers, 
owing to the concise manner in which almost all the entries of that date are 
made, do not furnish any means for tracing the parentage of our Author ; 
his Baptism is there thus briefly recorded, " Richardus Sherlock, baptized 
16th November, 1613." 

In Baine's History of Lancashire, and other publications, it is stated, 
that Dr. Sherlock of Winwick, was the grandfather of Bishop Sherlock. 
This too is incorrect. The Bishop was son of Dean Sherlock, whose father 
was a citizen of London. Family tradition, however, makes them to be 
related to our Author, but does not determine the degree of their relation- 
ship. 

d) ' 1 ■ ' ' ' " * -<•> 



® g> 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. Xvii 

the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him." 
And her posterity have many reasons (though not proper to 
be mentioned here) to believe she was heard in that she 
feared. 

This circumstance should not have been mentioned, but 
in hopes that some who read it may be led to consider, how 
many suffer for the iniquities of their forefathers, while 
none of their posterity are found to u stand in the gap," and 
put a stop to the judgments which God has determined to 
"pour out upon the families which call not on His Name." 

This pious mother (in confidence that God would hear 
her prayers) being now become a widow, gave her son an 
education suitable to her abilities. She sent him first to 
Oxford 1 , and afterwards, upon the account of a less expensive 
education, to Trinity College near Dublin, where he* pro- 
ceeded Master of Arts, A. D. 1633, as afterwards in the year 
165), Doctor in Divinity. 

And now, having both in his own, and his mother's in- 
tentions, been dedicated to the more immediate service of 
God, he entered into Holy Orders' 2 , and had a cure of souls 
conferred upon him in Ireland, which he attended until he 
was forced to quit that, and that Kingdom by the releMion 
which broke out in 1641. From thence he went to England, 
Chaplain to one of those regiments sent by the Marquis of 
Onnond to the King's assistance ; and which soon after, were 
unfortunately routed near Nantwich. 

Upon this, Mr. Sherlock returned to Oxford, where he 
was courteously received, and soon after elected one of the 

1) He was "originally (as it is said) a Student of Magdalen Hall." 
Wood's Athen. Oaou. vol. ii. p. 833. 

2) Wood (ibid.) lead? us to suppose, that he was Ordained immediately 
after taking his Master's degree, and adds, that " soon after, he became Min- 
ister of several small p Irishes in Erel'ind} united tognhvr, and yielding no 
more than £80 a year." The Editor has not been able to obtain any parti- 
culars of his Ordination, nor the names of the united parishes in Ireland 
where he ministered. CanonicJly, he could not have been Ordained earlier 
than A. D. 1636. 

O 

@ — — — — @ 



Q — © 

Xviii A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

Chaplains of New College, and continued there, until he was 
turned out by the Parliament visitors 1 . Not willing to be 
unemployed, he became Curate to Dr. Jasper Maine, at 
Cassington, until both the Doctor and his Curate were 
ejected. About which time Sir Robert Bindlosse of Borwick 
in Lancashire, returning from bis travels, Mr. Sherlock was 
well recommended to him, and as kindly received for his 
Chaplain. 

It was at this time, and in this neighbourhood, that George 
Fox began to broach and vent his new doctrines. Mr. Sher- 
lock being of reputation for learning and piety, Fox had the 
vanity to attempt to imake him his proselyte, or which is 
more likely, to make himself more famous by so remarkable 
an adversary. To this end he sends him a set of queries 
and demands an answer, in terms exceeding confident of 
victory. 

Mr. Sherlock was a man by no means fond of contro- 
versy ; "Practical Christianity" was his talent and delight ; 
and, but that this proud boaster gave him an insufferable dis- 
turbance, deluding many poor people into an opinion that 
his queries were unanswerable, perhaps he had never engaged 
in any thing of that nature. 

At last, to prevent the spreading mischief, he published 
several small tracts, namely : " The Quaker's Wild Questions 
Briefly Answered ;" to which he annexed, " A Discourse of 
the Holy Spirit, His workings and impressions on the souls 
of men;" as also "A Discourse of Divine Revelation, 

1) On his coming to Oxford, "he preached often before the Court and 
Parliament, became Chaplain to the Governor, as also Chaplain of this 
House, (New College,) and in tho year 1646, had his Bachelor of Divinity's 
degree bestowed upon him." [Walker, sufferings of the Clergy, part. ii. 
p. 130.] Wood informs us, that this Degree was " conferred upon him in con- 
sideration of several Sermons that he preached either at Court or before the 
Parliament in Oxon." Whilst Curate of Cassington — " an obscure village 
near Woodstock in Oxfordshire," — he was allowed £16 a year for his 
pains (the Vicarage being of trifling value), "a good part whereof he gave 
away to the poor of that place." Athen. Oxon. 

® -, ® 



® — ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. xix 

mediate and immediate:" and another " of Error, Heresy, 
and Schism." All which by the blessing of God had their 
effects, although that heresy spread too fast abroad, by being 
overmuch despised in other places. 

While he continued with Sir Robert Bindlosse he was, in 
the words of Micah 1 , u A Father and a Priest to him." 

The office of a Chaplain is an employment that requires 
as much Christian courage, conduct, and piety, to discharge 
it faithfully (where there are so many temptations, and so 
much need of virtue to overcome them) as any state of life 
whatever. And therefore it often happens that such as seek 
or accept that charge in hopes of preferment, do find a 
necessity of quitting either those hopes or a good con- 
science. 

One instance of Mr. Sherlock's behaviour in this part of 
his life, in which he showed a true Christian contempt of 
his own interest, will neither tire nor be unedifying to the 
reader. 

His patron had a just esteem for the Church and her 
Ministers, both at that time under a cloud, and being every 
way what they call an accomplished gentleman, it was no 
wonder that very many were fond of the honour of convers- 
ing w T ith him ; which had this unhappy effect, that it made 
him in love with company and many of the evils that attend 
it, and too many of the family followed his example. To 
make some amends, as they thought, for these liberties, they 
expressed an uncommon concern for the interest of the suffer- 
ing Church ; not considering that if we shall be shut out of 
Heaven for our sins, it will be no great comfort to us what 
Church we were members of on earth. 

The Chaplain saw this with grief, and therefore, after 
general discourses and intimations had had little or no effect, 
he applied to his patron more closely, and in a letter he 
wrote to him, laid down his and the vices of the family in 

1) Judges xvii. 10. 



© — ® 

XX A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

terms so home and serious and yet so mannerly, that one 
could not imagine a mind so void of goodness, as to be of- 
fended with his holy freedom. He desired him to consider 
what injury he did to the distressed Church, for which he 
always expressed so commendable a zeal. He intimated to 
him, that this was both the cause of her sufferings, and that 
which made her the scorn of her enemies; that her friends 
did her more dishonour than they could do her hurt; so that 
she may truly say, in the words of Zechariah, " These are 
the wounds which I received in the house of my friends 1 ." 
He assured him, that for his own part he durst not seem to 
countenance such criminal liberties ; lest the enemy should 
say, that the Ordinances of the Gospel were profaned with 
the consent of her Ministers. And then, forgetting, or 
rather despising his own interest, the uncertainty of the 
times, and all the expectations he might have from a person 
of so good an interest in the world, he earnestly pressed 
either to be hearkened to in this matter, or to be immediately 
discharged from his office 2 . 

His patron was so far from being offended with this just 
liberty of his faithful Chaplain, that he heard him with sub- 
mission, knowing well Whose ambassador he was, and ever 
after honoured him as his friend ; and would by no means 
part with him, until he thought his own entertainment too 
mean for so worthy a person ; and then he most effectually 
recommended him to a true son and lover of the Church, 
the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Derby ; who made 
him his domestic Chaplain, and reposed so much confidence 
in him, that upon the restoration of the Royal Family, he 
prevailed upon, and entrusted him with a commission to set- 

1) Zech. xiii. 6. 

2) Dr. Whitaker, in his History of Lonsdale, appended to his History of 
Richmondshire (vol ii. p. 312), gives an interesting Memoir of Dr. Sherlock. 
Alluding to Dr. Sherlock's request to be discharged from Lis ( hapluincy, if 
his remonstrance were not listened to, he remarks, " This it must be remem- 
bered was at a time when the regular Clergy were starving, and he himself 
would not have known where to procure a subsistence." 

® — - — ~© 



® ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXI 

tie the affairs of the Church of Man, which during the great 
Rebellion had suffered in her Doctrine, Discipline, and 
Worship. 

This difficult work he went through, while his fellow- 
commissioners settled the Civil and Military affairs, to the 
entire satisfaction of the Lord and people of that island ; 
which, by the blessing of God, continues as uniform in her 
Worship, as orthodox in her Doctrine, and as strict and 
regular in her Discipline, as any Christian Church in the 
world. 

Upon the Doctor's return from that happy island, by the 
favour of his noble patron, he obtained a presentation 1 to the 
Parsonage of Winwick, from King Charles the Second, the 
patronage being at that time in dispute, and immediately 
after, upon the expiration of a lease of ninety-nine years, his 
Living became one of the best in England. 

This was so far from transporting him, that it made him 
grow more jealous of himself, knowing full well, that the 
more he had, the more he was to account for. The first 
thing, therefore, he set himself to, besides the ordinary duties 
of the Ministry, was to compose and publish a short and 
plain Paraphrase upon the Church Catechism, exceedingly 
well suited to the capacities of his people. After this, to use 
his own words, because " Doctrine without practice is but a 
body of religion without a soul to quicken it,"' he published 
the following Summary of Christian Practice. And having 
freely given a considerable number of both these books 
amongst his parishioners, the good effect soon appeared in 
such a number of constant, devout communicants, as at that 
time, were hardly to be seen in any parish in England ; and 
by the great care of its Rectors, that parish still continues 
exemplary for its order and discipline. 

His preaching was like his devotions, plain and practical. 
And although until he grew much into years he was a con- 
stant Preacher, yet he always entertained in his house, at 

1) A. D. 1664. 
® — — — <D 



<•>- © 

XXii A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

least three Curates for the service of his Church and Chapels. 
So that both on account of the Doctor's primitive example, 
as also the choice he made of persons to serve at the Altar, 
Winwick became a very desirable place for young Divines 
to improve themselves in the work of the Ministry. An 
undertaking which, as well as any other art, requires time 
and good instructions and experience to be tolerably perfect 
in it. 

Ars artium est cura animarum, saith St. Gregory. This 
is true priestcraft, to be able, by the grace of God, to conduct 
men to eternal life ; an employment or craft, which we have 
no reason to be ashamed of, notwithstanding the reproach of 
late cast both upon the name and thing. 

Having so well provided for the instruction of his parish 
in " things pertaining to life and godliness," he set himself 
very earnestly to bring his people to a decent uniformity in 
the public worship of God. And this he brought about in a 
short time chiefly by the example of his own most humble 
and devout behaviour ; and where that would not do, he 
made use of rebukes, and a zeal which few people were proof 
against. So that his Church and Chapels soon became re- 
markable for that good order he then introduced, and which 
still continues a pattern to most other Churches. 

He would not suffer even strangers to give an ill example 
of irregularity or indevotion to his parishioners, so that either 
for fear, or for conscience sake, all complied with the edify- 
ing usages of the place. 

I will give the reader but one instance, to show how far 
a holy boldness and zeal for the honour of God and His ser- 
vice may go towards reforming an abuse, which all people of 
piety would wish to see done. 

A person of the first quality being at his Church, and a 
gentleman of his retinue not behaving himself with that dis- 
cretion and seriousness which the place and service required ; 
the Doctor, without any regard to the number or quality of 
the gentleman's friends, ordered him to be turned out of the 

& ___ — © 



® _ (5) 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. Xxiii 

Church. This unexpected rebuke soon changed his behav- 
iour ; and being by the Church-Wardens permitted to stay 
till the service was ended, he then according to the notorious 
profane way of that gentleman, said to his company — They 
threaten us with the devil, but I fear him not half so much, 
as I do that old gentleman in the long beard : meaning the 
Doctor. 

He suffered none to be baptized in private houses except 
in cases of necessity, as the Rubric directs, and he had the 
satisfaction of seeing this complied with, without those ill 
consequences which people are apt to fear ; who had rather 
give way to the importunities of the ignorant, than be at the 
pains to inform them better ; and can with less reluctancy 
disobey the Church than disoblige a private person. 

The truth is, if clandestine baptisms are less scandalous 
than clandestine marriages, yet the consequence of the first 
may be more fatal. And the dangeY is, lest that Sacrament 
should thereby become contemptible, as they say it is in some 
parts of the Greek Church, where it is deemed of little more 
importance, than as it is an occasion of the meeting of friends 
and their good entertainment. 

Some years before his death, when he had well considered 
all that had been said upon that subject, he published a small 
tract, u Of the irregularity of a Private Prayer in a Public 
Congregation." He was indeed of opinion that there was 
no occasion for longer prayers than what the Church pre- 
scribes in her Liturgy, which provides for all the ordinary 
wants of Christians, and which, where it is read with delibe- 
ration, and heartily closed with, is found to be long enough 
to satisfy, and were it not for the excellent variety of its 
offices, to tire the generality of worshippers, for whom it 
was composed. 

And verily, if such as are most fond of the other way would 
but sincerely make the experiment, and endeavour to keep 
their minds intent upon the public service, they would find 
their souls sufficiently satisfied with the provision the Church 

© ~® 



Q ® 

Xxiv A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

hnth made for them, without longing for a less choice if not 
a less safe entertainment. 

It is true while he lived with Sir Robert Bindlcsse, he 
was obliged through the iniquity of the times, and that his 
Ministry might not be stopped, to compose a prayer out of 
the Church Service ; and the reader may be assured that few 
of the gifted preachers of those days were more admired 
than was Dr. Sherlock, for his very plain and affecting prayer 
before his Sermon, even by them that would have despised 
him, had they known whence he borrowed it 1 . 

He was so strict a resident, that for near thirty years, he 
was scarce so many weeks all put together absent from his 
flock. 

During which time, he kept up a constant and decent 
hospitality, but the greatest part of his revenues, which were 
very considerable, he employed in charities of one kind or 
other 2 . 

Indeed, he considered his great incomes as a. mere depo- 
situm, and himself only as a steward ; and therefore though 
he was kind enough to his relations, yet he did not think 
fit to confine his kindness to them. Possessio Ecclesice 
sumptus est egcnorum, was his maxim, as well as St. Am- 
brose's. 

Any worldly aim or concern had so little share in his 

1) During his stay at Borwick Hall, " he was compelled in order to pre- 
vent his being silenced by the governing powers, to decline the literal use of 
the Common Prayer, but he digested out of it, a formula of worship as nearly 
approaching to it as he thought safe, and constantly used it to the great edi- 
fication of a crowded audience " The Chapel where Dr. Sherlock officiated, 
" is now razed to the foundations;" but Borwick Hall " is still standing." 
(Dr. Whitaker. Ibid.) — Borwick is in the parish of Warton, and Lucas, in 
his history of Warton, speaking of Dr. Sherlock, tells us, that " his memory 
is yet precious in this parish." 

2) Not to name many other valuable gifts, both in his life-time and at his 
death, to his own and many other parishes, the sum of £11. 85. bd. arising 
chiefly from Dr. Sherlock's charitable bequest, is yearly expended in the 
purchase of Bread, which is distributed among the poor of the paiish of 
Winwick. 

<•> * ——————— ® 



® ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXV 

affections, that after he had heen for so many years possessed 
of one of the best Livings in England, at his death he left 
behind him not above one year's profits, and even these in 
a great measure to pious uses. 

He always satisfied himself with the bare necessaries of 
life, and his temperance was every day such, that one of his 
Curate's allowance would have defrayed all his personal 
expenses. 

About three years before his death, being informed that 
the next advowson of Winwick had been obtained for the 
Master of University College 1 , the Doctor immediately 
invited him down into the country, and without being 
offended with the sight of his successor, he not only received 
him courteously, but thinking himself in his old age un- 
equal for so great a burden, he desired him to accept of the 
cure and the profits of that great Rectory, reserving to him- 
self a very moderate share of the incomes for his own future 
subsistence. 

As he had lived, so he died, a member as well as an 
ornament of the Church of England ; notwithstanding the 
reproach raised and industriously spread abroad, that he was 
a Papist in disguise. This was said both by Papists and 
Dissenters, and both had the same end in propagating the 
calumny — the disservice of that Church which he adorned by 
his most- exemplary life. 

After all there was no ground for this slanderous report, 
except such as might shame those that built any thing 
thereon. It was said, for instance, that he burnt incense' in 
the Church. Now the truth of that matter was this : his 
worthy patron, Charles Earl of Derby, the Easter after the 
Restoration, desiring to countenance by his own presence the 
now re-established worship of the Church, chose to receive 
the Lord's Supper at his parish Church, rather than in his 
Chapel at Latham. The Doctor suspecting what he found 
too true, that the Chancel had been as little regarded as the 

1) Obadiah Walker, M. A. 

-_ @ 



® 

XXvi A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

Lord's Supper, which had not been administered in that 
Church for some years past, went a few days before to see 
things put in order; and cleansing the Chancel, which it 
seems had been more frequented by dogs and swine than 
men, it raised such an insufferable stench, that he was obliged 
to order frankincense to be burned the day before the solem- 
nity, that his congregation might not be discomposed by such 
an unexpected nuisance. This was improved so far as to 
make him a Papist. Nay, so unreasonable a prejudice had 
many against him, that reading upon his induction, the title 
of the twenty-second Article, u Of Purgatory," one who had 
not the patience to hear any more, went out of the Church 
in great indignation with these words spoken aloud, — " If you 
be for purgatory, you shall be none of my teacher." 

As for the Papists themselves, his excellent answers to 
some persons of note, who had written to him after they had 
been perverted to that Communion, will witness for him, at 
least to them, that he was no favourer of their errors. 

They might indeed envy the Church of England such 
an ornament, who most truly practised the Christian duties 
of temperance, mortification, self-denial, chastity, and devo- 
tion after a primitive manner, and which are by the members 
of that Church too often made a work, not of love to God, 
but of necessity, and therefore are performed by halves. 
Whereas he voluntary chose the severities of a single life, 
at the same time that he approved of chaste marriage in others 
of his own order. If he fasted much, and was continually 
in prayer, he called these means of religion, and not religion 
itself. If he gave much alms to the poor, and denied himself 
many satisfactions, which he could easily have purchased, 
he did not, however, pretend to merit by these exercises of 
piety, no more than a steward pretends to merit by being 
faithful, or a sick man by being orderly. 

He died some months after the Revolution, and before 
any measures were taken to try who did not approve of the 
ways engaged in to bring it about ; so that it would be im- 



@r 



® . ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXvii 

pertinent to say what lie would have done, had he lived a 
few weeks longer, in a case in which he was exceedingly 
reserved. 

He had always preached up passive obedience and non- 
resistance in the sense of the Church in her Homilies, and 
he was of a life too retired, of a religion too practical, and of 
a mind too regardless of any worldly interest, to have con- 
cerned himself in a controversy altogether new to him. It 
is probable the barbarous anarchy, the confusion and misery 
of the late Rebellion, in which he had been a sufferer, had 
made strong impressions upon his mind in prejudice of what 
was then acting. He had in his younger years been imposed 
upon by some people, who seemed to have nothing so much 
at heart, as the glory of God and the welfare of the Church 
and nation. But when he saw what in truth they aimed at, 
he abhorred their hypocrisy, and became so affectionate a 
lover of the Monarchy, and of that Church which suffered 
with it, that with the zeal of Mephibosheth 1 he would never 
be prevailed on to shave his beard after the King was 
murdered. He was neither surprised by death nor afflicted 
with any of those ailments which are generally the forerun- 
ners of that great change. As he had lived a life of the 
strictest temperance, and had enjoyed an uninterrupted health, 
scarce knowing by experience what sickness was, his disso- 
lution was accordingly without violence or any remarkable 
agonies 2 . 

1) 2 Sam. xix. 24. 

2) The following extract from Dr. Sherlock's will, is instructive, as show- 
ing the character of his piety, after so long a life, spent in the practice of 
self-denial and other acts of practical obedience. 

" In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen. 
The fourteenth day of June 1689. I, Richard Sherlock, Doctor of Divinity 
of the Church of England, Priest and Rector of Winwick ; being, though 
far in years, yet God be blessed of sound mind and perfect memory, and 
mindful of the great account I must give up before the just Judge of the 
world, of all my actions and enjoyments in this present life. In order there- 
unto I do make this my last will and testament, revoking all other by these 
presents heretofore declared by me either in word or writing. 

® -© 



©— ® 

XXviii A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

He was of a body so spare and light, that until a few days 
before he died he could walk as nimbly as a youth, which 
was his constant exercise for a quarter of an hour before he 
eat ; and which no doubt contributed very much to prolong 
his life to so considerable an age; for he died in his seventy- 
sixth year. 

The following devotions show his inward man better 
than any draught that can be made of him by any other pen. 
And when the reader is assured that what he there peruses 
was the Doctor's constant exercise, he need not be told that 
he was a most devout Christian, and not less sincere ; since 
he so strictly observed himself, what he so earnestly recom- 
mended to others 1 . And he had the satisfaction of knowing 
long before he died, that very many had formed their lives 
according to this model. 

Some years before his death he caused his gravestone to 
be laid in the place where his body was afterwards buried ; 
which from thenceforward, became to him a place of more 
particular devotion, whenever he could secure himself from 
being seen of men, which, of all things, he abhorred. 

He ordered the following epitaph to be engraven in brass 
and fixed upon his stone. 

EXUVIJS 

RICHAKDI SHERLOCK, S. T. P. 

" First, in all humility and all godly sorrow for my sins, my many, very 
many sins, both of my youth and riper age ; I do bequeath my soul into 
the merciful hands of my dear Redeemer, Who offered up His innocent soul 
a sacrifice for my soul, and for the many sinful pollutions thereof, all which I 
humbly beg may be washed away, through faith in His blood which was shed 
for them." 

In Dr. Sherlock we discover no traces of any of those meritorious self- 
lighteous feelings, which men in our day assign as the inseparable attendants of 
a life spent, as his was, in self mortification, and the daily bearing of the Cross. 

1) "He had his stated hours of prayer not only in the day-time, but 
in the night, when he rose from his bed and went into his Chapel." (Dr. 
Whitaker.) He adds in a note, — " I suppose that at that time there was a 
domestic Chapel in the Parsonage House of Winwick, as at Houghton-le- 
Spring, and perhaps at the houses of a few other very opulent livings." 

® — — ® 



® — — <3> 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. Xxix 

INDIGNISSIMI HUJUS ECCLESIiE RECTORIS 

OBIIT 20 DIE JUNII, AN. AETATIS 76. 

A If NO DOM. 16S9. 

SAL INFATUATUM CONCULCATE. 

A certain person 1 who very well knew the Doctor's life 
and merits, and who had a venerable regard for his memory, 
subjoined this farther inscription. 

EN VIRI SAXCTISSIMI MODESTIA ! 

QUI EPITAPH1UM SE INDIGNUM 

INSCRIBI VOLEBAT, CUM VITA 

ET MERITA EJUS, LAUDES OMNES 

LOXGE SUPER.AREXT. 

And now I have only this to add. to this short account, 
that if any who knew Dr. Sherlock, wonder that I have omit- 
ted so many known instances of his great mortification, self- 
denial, and contempt of the world : I have only this to an- 
swer, that as he had, to be sure, good reasons for laying himself 
under such a discipline, as might rather discourage than edify 
the inexperienced; so whenever the Holy Spirit powerfully 
influences the heart, He will direct men to the most proper 
exercises and expressions of their love to God, and such as 
are most agreeable to the advances they have made in the 
ways of religion. 

And as the Doctor, in his life-time, did never attempt, to 
use his own words, magisterially to impose his methods of 
d.vo.ion upon others, so neither do I think it needful, after 
his death, to enumerate the particular instances of his aus- 
terities and other exercises of piety, which, or at least such 
as will be as well pleasing to God, will always be the fruits 
and ornament of a life so devoted to God as his w r as. 

The following additional account of Dr. Sherlock's life, 
forms the concluding portion of the Funeral Sermon preached 
by his friend and Curate, the Rev. Thomas Crane, M. A., 
from the text Job xix. 25 — 27. 

1) Mr. Henry Prescot of Chester. 

® — 



®— -® 

XXX A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

"I have yet a large province behind, were T but able to 
manage it : I must, and do ingenuously confess, that some 
undeserved favours to me, when and whilst I was a student 
in the College, did always incline me to do him service, 
whose exequies we now celebrate ; however, being conscious 
to myself of my own insufficiency to discharge this task as 
it ought to be, that he was pleased to lay upon me, made me 
wish, and unfeignedly desire, that one more fit and better 
accomplished, had been employed upon this solemn occasion. 

"One main advantage that I have herein, before a stran- 
ger, is, that I need not be inquisitive, nor much solicitous 
after the memorable passages of his Life ; for those I presume 
are much-what known to me already, having enjoyed his 
company, and obtained his converse for many years together. 
Notwithstanding at this present, I cannot, without a more 
mature deliberation, and less disturbance and distraction of 
my thoughts, present you with any other than a rude, imme- 
thodical, and imperfect draught of his life : and wherein 
you find the representative to fall short, as it needs must, of 
that idea, that may worthily be conceived of this venerable 
person, I hope you will have so much Christian candour as 
to connive at the defects of your brother, and so much chari- 
ty for me, and respect for the deceased, as to pity rather 
than deride my weakness ; and wish, as I myself have done, 
that one more judicious and rhetorical had been the present 
undertaker. 

44 1 know the very naming of him is enough to all that 
knew him : and to read, and seriously to meditate upon his 
devout and practical pieces, will be sufficient for them that 
knew him not. Albeit virtue hath no more than merit when 
it is commended, yet justice will that it should have its due ; 
for though it cannot be bettered thereby, yet in so doing it is 
righted. 

" He was early matriculated in the University, too early 
I have heard him say with some regret 1 j for to send raw and 

1) He was admitted into the College when he was about 14 years of age : 
© — ® 



— ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXxi 

green youth thither, before the tongues be learned and 
understood, is a great diskindness to it, proves often such a 
defect, that will hardly after be made good without double 
diligence and industry : in that such will be obliged to study, 
before they can understand an author ; which falls out other- 
wise when well schooled beforehand, for that then they read 
with much ease and delight, as well as profit. 

" After, as I conceive, he had commenced Master of Arts 
in the University of Dublin, he entered into Holy Orders, 
and was presented to a Cure, and undertook first the Pastoral 
Charge in that now distracted Kingdom of Ireland : when 
instantly the Rebellion there breaking forth, he was forced 
thence, leaving and losing his books, and what he had. Nor 
was England after that, for any long time more kind or aus- 
picious to him, for that the torrent of wars did quickly over- 
flow the nations : however, he was always steadfast to his 
principles, steady in allegiance, and faithful to his Sovereign ; 
promoting his interest with great zeal and courage, as much 
as lay within his sphere. For his loyalty he sustained and 
suffered very much deprivation, and for some time imprison- 
ment, as many worthies did besides him. At the last, when 
driven out of Oxford, (where for some space he was resident, 
and one of the Chaplains in New College, officiating also at 
one of the Churches in the town,) by good providence he found 
shelter in a small village near adjoining, where he lived 
obscurely, yet he said very happily, for that he was at rest, 

for which, as he intimated, he -was constrained to become the more studious 
and industrious. And how well he improved his time, and what progress he 
made in learning, will sufficiently appear by what he writ, without any 
further observation. That which I find recorded of S. Remigius, may well 
be attributed unto him ; — Ut primum disciplinarian capax factxis est, non rnodo 
natu majores, §c. That from the time of his first capacity of learning, he 
outstripped those that were superior to him in age, as well in excellency of 
parts, as proficiency in study and maturity in moral viitues. I was enforced 
to make this remark, for that it was reported, that I had derogated from his 
worth and parts by my late expressions, rendering him thereby as mean and 
despicable. How deserving such censures are, let the reader be judge, and 
tell, whether the same be not temerarious, if not captious and perverse. 

® ~® 



© ® 

XXXii A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

and not envied there, because the place was of no great 
value • save that the people were very kind and respective 
to him, and had a deference for him j which made his Min- 
istry more effectual, as well as life more comfortable ; for 
truly so it is, that wherever the people are prejudiced, or 
disaffected, (though a man had the tongue of men and Angels,) 
he shall, as one expresseth it, sooner preach out his heart 
amongst them, than preach what is good into their hearts. 

" But what corner of the nations was then left long unran- 
sacked? Here also they found him, and drove him out; 
insomuch that he was sore hurried and posted to and fro, being 
not able to fix his station long in any one place, except in 
one loyal family in the North 1 . 

" Till at last, by a most strange and propitious revolution, 
the King and royal issue returning, and the kingdoms settling 
after so much war and bloodshed, his Noble, and Right 
Honourable Patron, Charles Earl of Derby, whose Chaplain 
he was, as he had been long before to his grandfather, the 
Right Honourable William Earl of Derby, presented him to 
this place : so that his lot at the last fell unto him in a goodly 
heritage 2 , which might, as no doubt it did, in some measure 
compensate for his former losses and great sufferings. And 
for this I have heard him say, with much gladness of heart, 
for he thanked God when he spake it, that never any Bene- 
fice was more frankly and freely bestowed than his was • 
which was much, very much to the honour of his noble Pa- 
tron, whose necessities, notwithstanding, might be very 
great and urgent, because of his and the Earl his father's 
late troubles and sufferings for loyalty's sake, which are not 
here to be recounted. 

" As for his painfulness in his Cure, let his own words be 
heard, or he being dead yet speaketh, and preacheth to us ; 
thus ou may read him in his Dedicatory Epistle to his 
Parishioners in his Practical Christian. 4 As for the discharge' 
of my duty, though I cannot say I have been so prudent, and 

1) Borwick Hall. 2) Winwick. 
© - " © 



Q — ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXxiii 

diligent, as the high and holy nature of my function requires, 
vet you know I have not omitted frequently to put you in 
mind of the whole will of God, in the careful observance 
whereof the health of your souls consisteth.' And lest any 
should be at a loss for the contents of God's holy will, he 
there further informs us, that the same is collected out of the 
whole body of Holy Scriptures, and summed up into general 
heads by the Church of Christ in her Catechism. 4 The 
which,' saith he, ' though by a strange fanatic humour it be 
slighted, and by self-conceited persons derided, yet contains 
all things, both of faith and fact, necessary to salvation, being 
rightly, clearly, and fully understood.' For this end he hath 
paraphrased the same : which how much in vogue and esteem 
throughout the nation, the many editions thereof do fully 
demonstrate. 

11 He would often tell his hearers of such that have itching 
ears, who through the desire of much hearing, upon the pre- 
tence of going on to perfection, were apt to run off the very 
foundation. Alike to this, is that of a late Reverend Prelate 
(Bishop Nicolson) who thus expresseth himself: ' Ever since 
Sermonizing hath justled out the necessary instruction of 
Catechising, the people have been possessed with strange 
errors in religion, and hurried on by the spirit of giddiness, 
of faction, and of rebellion.' 

" He was evermore for what was practical, much more 
for that than what was controversial in Divinity : he 
seemed rather to decline than encourage and countenance 
disputes ; as if thereby he dreaded greater differences : 
which often falls out, that more strifes are engendered and 
multiplied by hotly and stiffly arguing it, than are quelled 
thereby. 

" He was very strict and regular in his life and conversa- 
tion, no less observant of the Church's Orders and Constitu- 
tions : he would not admit of private prayer in public, of no 
other there than what the Church enjoined to be used, as pre- 

3 

® — 



<§> — ® 

XXXIV A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

scribed and established by authority 1 . And pray ! with what 
face can men pretend to be of the Church, and guides to the 
people, when they will not be ruled nor regulated thereby, 
acting as she enjoins ? 

u As for his hospitality and acts of charity, they have been 
deservedly much famed : he gave much alms, and daily 
administered to the necessitous, to such that were in prison 
and distress : he clothed the naked, and provided bread for 
the hungry, contributed much towards the settling of a stock 
of bread and clothes for the poor for ever. His charity was 
diffusive, for not only his own but other parishes were 
warmed by its bountiful influence. He hath made such 
provision for the indigent, that the children which are yet 
unborn may gratefully commemorate him. He was much 
conversant in watching, fasting, and praying, as well as alms- 
deeds, with him they inseparably accompanied each other. 
He showed himself in all things a pattern of good works, the 
mirror of holiness, the sampler of Christian piety. His zeal 
was such in providing for the sick and needy, as to deny 
himself those things that were convenient for him, that he 
might be better able to supply the wants of the necessitous. 
He had learned that the glory of one of his high and holy 
function consisted much in making provision for the poor, 
as his shame did in studying to enrich himself 2 . Wherefore 
his principal care for this was, to lay up his treasure in Hea- 
ven by a faithful dispensation (as a careful steward) of that 
which God had given him upon earth. 

1) For this I may, and do refer alt such that require further satisfaction, 
and more particular information herein, to a brief discourse of his, entituled, 
The Irregularity of a Private Prayer in a Public Congregation. In a Letter 
to a Friend, Anno Dom. 1674. And since then reprinted and enlarged. 
However, he thought it prudence to conceal his name, for that custom had 
so much prevailed to the contrary. See also Pulpit Conceptions, Popular 
Deceptions. There is more of this in the Preachers Guard and Guide, 
alias Rex Theologus, wherein is ranked the use of long prayers of our own 
conceiving before Sermon, among the innovations these later times have 
made. 

2) Ignominia Sacerdotis est, propriisstudere, Sec. 

® ® 



® <§) 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXXV 

11 He was very spare and slender of body ; and it was 
thought he impaired its strength very much by his frequent 
fasting and abstinence. However he would not endure to be 
told thereof; for upon any such suggestion, he was ready to 
reply, That he did eat and drink too much ; and that many, 
if not most, of men (using the proverb) did dig their graves 
with their teeth. Upon this account, for that he was so 
much devoted to austerity of life, and was so strict an observer 
of the holy time of Lent, and other stated Fasts of the Church ; 
for this and the like, the ignorance of some, and that, and 
ill-will in others, would needs have him tainted with Po- 
pery. 

" He often forsook his warm bed in the cold season of the 
night, that he might betake himself to his devotions ; so that 
he spent the time in watching, weeping, and praying, when 
others were at their repose, and sleeping. He esteemed time 
most precious, reckoning of that as lost, more than what was 
necessary for rest and refreshment to the body, that was not 
employed in prayer, study, Christian visits, and such like ; 
insomuch, that that very character, which was given to St. 
Hierom by the Author of his Life, may very well be bestow- 
ed on this reverend person 1 : — That he would indulge sleep 
no more (scarce that) than only to satisfy the necessity of na- 
ture ; that he remitted nothing of pains and industry for reading 
or study ; nor of his alacrity in prayer : so that it was a wonder 
to see a body, that had sustained so much by labour, vigi- 
lance, and fasting, to continue so full of vigour and active- 
ness. Moreover, as if he had (what can we imagine less ?) 
some secret and invisible monitor still at hand to instigate 
him thereunto, he would frequently, and that instantly, de- 
part the company, retire into secret, to pour forth his soul 
into pious, and fervent ejaculations 2 ; when and where his 

1) Somnusnon ad delicias, sed ad naturae capiturnecessitatem: Cams jam 

totus aspersus, nihil ex studiorum assiduitate remittit Mirumeiat in cor- 

pore jejuniis et estate consumpto, tantum spiritus, tantum vigere fortitudinis. 

2) Saepe accidit, ut dum inter alios versaretur, et cum illis Sermonem 

® — ■ — ! ® 



®— -® 

XXXVI A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR 

zeal and transports have been such, that he hath been often 
overheard; which in charity we must conclude was not de- 
signedly, and out of vain affectation to be overheard, that he 
might be taken notice of; no, but we must impute the same 
to the mere raptures of devotion. That of venerable Bede, 
which he ascribed to his predecessor S. Cuthbert, is very 
applicable to this Reverend Pastor 1 , — That he fulfilled his 
duty in daily prayers in behalf of the people committed tojiis 
charge, and he taught them nothing by his words, whereof 
he did not give them a good example by his deeds. 

" He had David's Psalms ad unguem, making responses 
all by heart ; evening and morning, as the Church prescribes, 
he attended public prayers : and upon the more solemn days 
of Fasting and Humiliation, as upon Ash-Wednesday, Good- 
Friday, &c, after Divine Service had been celebrated in the 
Church, he would in his private Chapel read prayers again, 
making then use of the Psalms and Lessons, as appointed 
by the Calendar in ordinary course for the day, when those 
that were proper and peculiar to that day had been read 
before. 

" Whenever the Absolution was pronounced, or the Bene- 
diction given, being upon his bended knees, he bared his 
venerable gray hairs, and lowly bowed his head, as if he 
would have kissed the ground. 

" Very often in private he hath been seen and heard to 
weep, and pray, and beat his breast ; not only kneeling, but 
sometimes throwing himself flat upon the earth ; lying pros- 
trate on the ground, as if he had been licking up the dust; 
thus profoundly humbling himself, even to the lowest. Since 
he has already paid the last debt to nature, we may safely 
speak ; for that it is impossible to humour the dead into dan- 
ger, or in this case to melt ourselves away into flattery. 

misceret, intus Deum se alloquentem sentiens, discederet in cubiculum ibi 
cor suum coram Domino effundens, &c. In Vit. Th. a Kempis. 

1) Commissam namqno sibi plebem et orationibus, protegebat assiduis, 
et admonissionibus, &c. Bed. Eccl. Hist. lib. iv. cap. 28. 

® -® 



I - ® 

OF THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONS. XXXvil 

M A good old man, like to this pious one, who is now 
become our present subject, being much importuned to de- 
clare, what his studies and contemplations for the most part 
were : — at last, breaking the bounds of modesty, he made 
this answer 1 , — That he for his part, was daily conversant in, 
and much meditating upon the four last things, Death and 
Judgment, Heaven and Hell. These we may well presume 
possessed much the thoughts of the deceased, for that in 
writing he hath expatiated hereupon, and recommended the 
same to our serious meditations. 

" It were easy to multiply instances of this nature, for we 
have a very virtuous and copious subject ; the whole narra- 
tive of his life would take up much, and justly challenges a 
far better and more able pen ; but brevity necessitates me, 
that I be not tedious, to pass by many memorable passages. 
There is nothing of untruth, as I conceive, that can deservedly 
be charged upon me for what I have already said ; I fear there 
is more of virtue and piety than hundreds will ever imitate 
or practise. However, let a man live or act never so well, 
there will be some Momus or other to carp, some prejudiced 
and disaffected to traduce and censure him, and never under- 
stand the worth, till they find the want of him ; which great 
numbers will be sure to do, I mean the poor that he fed and 
clothed, who can be no feigning nor personating, but real 
mourners for his death. 

" Having led his life in an holy and chaste celibacy, being 
never wedded to any save God, and the people that were 
committed to his care and trust, of w T hose spiritual welfare 
he was very tender ; and having spun out his days to the 
76th year of his age, he seemed to be weary of the world, 
and to wait for his dissolution ; wherein his God hath 
gratified him, having brought him to his fathers, and in a 
good old age delivered him from the miseries of this sinful 
world, it may be from much evil to come. Which God 

1) Se quotidie versari, &c. 
® . __ ® 



®_ 



-® 



XXXV111 A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR. 

in mercy prevent, and of His infinite goodness grant ' that 
among the sundry and manifold changes and chances of this 
mortal life, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true 
joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.' " 




®" 



"® 



<•>- 



-<•> 




PARISHIONERS OF WINWICK, 
IN LANCASHIRE. 



Good People : 

The cure of your souls being by the Divine Providence 
incumbent upon me, very unfit to undergo so great a charge, 
especially considering the liberty which most men do now 
assume in the way of religion : in the discharge of my duty, 
though I cannot say I have been so prudent and diligent, as 
the high and holy nature of my function requires ; yet you 
know I have not omitted frequently to put you in mind, 
which is one principal part of my office, of the whole will of 
God, in the careful observance whereof the health of your 
souls consisteth. 

The contents of God's revealed will, being delivered and 
dispersed through the whole body of Holy Scriptures, are 
collected and summed up into general heads by the Church 
of Christ, in her Catechism : the which, though by a strange 
fanatic humour it be slighted, and by self-conceited persons 
derided, yet contains all things both of faith and fact neces- 
sary to salvation, being rightly, clearly, and fully understood. 

Did you therefore rightly understand, and seriously con- 
sider, wherein your soul's health and edification chiefly con- 
sists, you would be better pleased with the frequency of 



®- 



@ 



© ® 

xl EPISTLE TO THE PARISHIONERS 

Catechising, and be more versed in those essentials of reli- 
gion, than in the hearing of many sermons, which are of 
less concern. 

I have not spared my pains in preaching, nor my purse in 
the maintenance of others to assist me herein. But by long 
experience it is evident, that Sermons (what through the 
variety, several modes and methods on the one hand, and 
what through the great abuse thereof on the other) have not 
that influence upon the minds of men as becometh " sound 
doctrine," but have too much sway with" men of itching 
ears, who heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts :" 
who, upon pretence of going on to perfection, go off the 
foundation, wax vain in their imaginations, and their foolish 
hearts are darkened, whilst they conceit themselves enlight- 
ened. 

And therefore, for your more ready, easy, and constant 
instruction, I have committed to writing, and made public, 
The Summary of Christian Doctrine, being the Catechism of 
the Church of England Paraphrased. 

And because doctrine without practice is but a body of 
religion without a soul to quicken it ; I have here added a 
Summary of Christian Practice, in the ensuing rules of self- 
examination, which will equally discover unto you your sins 
and miscarriages past, and serve for a guide to direct you in 
the future ordering of all the actions of your lives in the 
ways of godliness. 

In both which Summaries, I have endeavoured to be both 
brief and plain, delivering only what I conceive generally 
necessary to salvation, and expressing the same in the most 
easy way to be understood : as knowing that multitude of 
words, various, acute, and quaint affected expressions, espe- 
cially in the essentials of religion, though they may more 
please, do not so much profit, nay, they do really rather dis- 
tract than instruct the minds of most. For it is not the 
rattling of the leaves, but the fruits of the tree of knowledge, 
that feed the soul to life eternal. 

® *® 



®. ® 

OF WINWICK. xli 

The prayers prescribed upon any the ensuing considera- 
tions, are not by way of one long continued oration without 
intermission, but divided into several shorter prayers : and 
this because, 

1. The heat of holy zeal is hereby better maintained, and 
kept flaming in the soul, whilst the ending of one prayer 
and beginning another, adds new fervour to the soul's devo- 
tion. 

2. Long prayers do tire the spirits, clog the memory, 
distract the mind, and damp that celestial fervour which is 
the life of all holy and acceptable prayers. 

3. Such are all those prayers which are truly the prayers 
of God's Holy Spirit, and stand upon record in Holy Writ : 
they are all divided and cut short into so many distinct 
verses, as into so many several shorter prayers. 

4. Thus Christ has commanded us to pray, 3Iatt. vi. 7 — 9. 
And according to this pattern, the prayers of Christ's Church, 
even for the length thereof, are generally framed. 

My primary intention in the ensuing Discourse, was 
chiefly to direct you for the worthy receiving of the Holy 
Communion of the Body and blood of Christ, whereufito a 
thorough self-examination is absolutely necessary. 

And being desired to enlarge my Meditations upon that 
blessed Sacrament, I have therefore now divided the former 
edition into two parts : the first, of Self-examination ; and 
the second, of the Holy Communion. 

Wherein I must necessarily tell you, that since the dan- 
ger of unworthy receiving is equivalent to the benefit of the 
worthy ; it therefore concerns every one of you, that hath 
any sense and sincere care of his soul's health, as strictly to 
" examine himself, before he eat of that Bread, and drink of 
that Cup," as he believes he shall be examined before the 
great Tribunal of Heaven ; and accordingly to purge and 
purify his soul by confession, contrition, and all the sacred 
acts and offices of true repentance, the practice whereof is in 
the following leaves delivered. 

© — ■ : — ® 



® — ® 

Xlii TO THE PARISHIONERS OF WINWICK. 

I shall not further enlarge this Epistle, more than to pray, 
that God may be pleased to assist you by His Divine grace, 
carefully to observe such useful instructions as be herein 
given you : not vainly jangling, and talking of religion ; but, 
according to the covenant you have made with your God, 
u to keep His Holy Will and Commandments, and to walk 
in the same all the days of your life ;" remembering Who it 
is that hath said it, " If thou wilt enter into life, keep the 
Commandments. 1 " And that you may observe the one as 
the way to the other, I humbly beg may be thine for me, as 
it is mine for thee, even the constant prayer of 
Your respective Pastor, 

RICHARD SHERLOCK. 

1) Matt. xix. 17. 




® _____ @ 



-® 




TO THE 

PIOUSLY AFFECTED READER. 



It is the happiness of man, above that of the beasts that 
perish, that he can both converse with himself and the 
blessed Creator of himself, Who hath enstamped His Divine 
Image upon his immortal soul, to have his conversation in 
Heaven ; and amidst the most startling changes of this mor- 
tal life, have his heart surely fixed there where true joys are 
to be found. 

Mens in Ccelis, quies in terris. 

If we set our affections on things above, all will be in 
quiet here below ; so that we may securely sail through the 
troubled waters of the many various opinions and divisions, 
uncharitable contentions and disputes in religion, too irreli- 
giously maintained and managed to the great decay both of 
its life and lustre in the hearts and lives of its professors. 
And finally, through all the turbulent sects and factions of 
these last and most tempestuous times, to arrive safely at the 
much-desired haven of the Heavenly Land of Promise ; 
where alone dwells unity and peace, sweet blessed peace, 
and that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory : whither 
may our mutual prayers for each other, with such devout 



®- 



-® 



xlh 



TO THE READER. 



tears and sighs which are the breathings of the Holy Spirit j 
of God, waft and conduct us all, through the alone merits of j 
our dear Redeemer : and this I humbly beg may be thine as ! 
it is mine, even the constant prayer of thy loving brother in 
the Lord, 

RICHARD SHERLOCK. 




■«- 



-<2> 



3 



-® 




CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

CHAPTER I. 

Of the Great Necessity of Self-Examination .... 49 

CHAPTER II. 

The Rule of Self-Examination by the Vow in Baptism 58 

CHAPTER III. 

,The Rule of Self-Examination by the Creed ; or, by the 
second part of the Vow in Baptism, To believe all 
the Articles of the Christian Faith 65 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Rule of Self-Examination by the Decalogue : or by 
the third part of the Vow in Baptism, To keep God's 
holy Will and Commandments, &c 67 

CHAPTER V. 

The Examination of Religious Actions 98 



®- 



-© 



<§>- ® 

xlvi CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Examination of Repentance 101 

CHAPTER VII. 

Considerations with Directions in the Confession of Sin 103 

CHAPTER VIII. 

A Form of Confession of Sin, fitted to the Rules of Self- 
Examination, whereunto every one may add or sub- 
tract, as he finds himself guilty or not guilty . . . 114 

CHAPTER IX. 

An ancient Form of Confession, extant Biblioth. Pa- 
trum 142 

CHAPTER X. 

The Lord's Prayer Paraphrased 149 

CHAPTER XI. 

The Seven Penitential Psalms Paraphrased . • . . . 154 
Meditations upon the Tears of a Devout Soul . . . 186 

CHAPTER XII. 

Meditations and Prayers to be Partakers of the Merits 
of what our Blessed Redeemer hath done and suf- 
fered for us 193 

Meditations upon the Disease and Cure of the Soul . 203 



® — ' — — ® 



® — ® 

CONTENTS. Xlvii 

PART II. • 

CHAPTER T. 

Of the two general Christian Duties required, in order 
to the Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of 
Christ . . . . 213 

CHAPTER II. 

Meditations and Prayers preparatory to the Holy Com- 
munion, the week before 227 

CHAPTER III. 

Meditations and Prayers for the Friday especially before 
the Communion 233 

CHAPTER IV. 

St. Augustine's Recommendation of the Passion of Christ 
unto God the Father 242 

CHAPTER V. 

St. Ambrose's Commemoration of our Saviour's Passion 2-15 

CHAPTER VI. 

St. Gregory's Prayers upon the Passion of Christ . . 249 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Form of Prayer used by our Lord upon the Cross, 
viz. the twenty-second Psalm Paraphrased .... 251 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Meditations and Prayers preparatory to the Blessed Sa- 
crament, on Saturday night, or Sunday morning before 264 

$ ® 



®- ® 

xlviii CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX. 

Meditations upon your going to Church ; with some short 
Directions for your demeanour in the House and in the 
Service of God 271 

CHAPTER X. 

Meditations and Prayers at the Blessed Sacrament . . 281 

CHAPTER XI. 

Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving after the Holy Com- 
munion : . . . . 295 

Meditations upon the Dwelling of God in the Hearts of 
His People 303 

Meditation III. Holy Breathings of the Soul after 
God 312 

Meditations upon Unity in the Public Worship of God 315 

The hundred and thirty^third Psalm Paraphrased . . 318 







^M^»4M 



M&£ 




-® 



THE 



PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN. 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 



jz rzz c-?.z^: zzizssity of szlf-zxamination. 



Whosoever believes as a Christian his soul to be 
immortal, being either entitled to everlasting joy 
through faith and obedience to the Gospel of Christ, 
or liable to eternal wo a through disobedience and 
misbelief, must be very stupid and sottish, if he do 
not frequently " examine himself 5 ," whether he may 
reasonably conclude he is in the state of grace and 
salvation ; or of sin, and of death the " wages thereof ." 

" All the works of the righteous and of the wise 
are in the hand of God : and no man knoweth either 
love or hatred, by all that is before him'." God hath 
kept secret to Himself His decrees of eternal salvation 
and damnation of each particular person : but yet 
each man's conscience, impartially examined, will 
acquaint him with very much of his condition, 



a John v. 28, 29. 
c Rom. vi. 23. 



b Psalm iv. 4 ; 2 Cor. xiii. 5 ; Gal. vi. 4. 
d Eccles. ix. 1. 



®- 



-® 



® 9 

50 THE GREAT NECESSITY [PART I. 

whether of wisdom or folly, of righteousness or sin, 
of life or of death to all eternity. 

2. That every man should know himself, is such 
a fundamental principle of true wisdom, that wise 
men of old affirmed Nosce teipsum, to be a command 
immediately derived to the sons of men, by a voice 
from Heaven, as being absolutely necessary to the 
right guidance of all the actions of human life upon 
earth. " Many sciences are invented (saith Bern.) 
by the sons of men ; but there is none greater, none 
more profitable, than each man's knowledge of him- 
self. There is not a more compendious way to the 
knowledge of God, than the knowledge of a man's 
self*." 

He who knows every thing, and knows not him- 
self aright, knows in effect as much as comes to 
nothing. 

3. The reasonable soul, were it not debauched by 
the sensual appetite, and distracted by the hurry of 
exorbitant desires, could not but often remember 
herself, examine and call to mind the Author and 
End of her being ; the immortality and dignity of her 
nature ; what is her errand into this world, and how 
she shall subsist in the world to come; what is her 
chiefest good, and wherein her perfection and felicity 
consists : which cannot be merely to eat and drink 
and sleep, purchase lands, build houses, satisfy the 

lusts of the flesh, swell with pride of life. She 

would consider that she is stamped after the image of 

e Bern, de Interiori Domo, c. 12. 
0. @ 



® ® 

CHAP. I.] OF SELF-EXAMINATION. 51 

God, and her happiness consists in the knowledge, 
love, and enjoyment, of the Divine Majesty, and in 
the imitation and representation (according to her 
model) of the perfections of the Godhead. 

It is peculiar to God alone, to be essentially blessed 
in Himself, even in the contemplation and fruition of 
His own perfections from everlasting to everlasting. 
And yet so great is the goodness of God, that he hath 
made man capable of the same blessedness with Him- 
self; to enjoy not another, but the same felicity which 
God Himself enjoys in the enjoyment of Himself. 
That is the great end and perfection of man's being 
in nature, eVen through all the degrees of grace, to 
see the fair beauty of God in glory, and to love Him 
and praise Him for ever. 

But, alas ! vain " man being in honour, hath no 
understanding," considers not the honour of his being 
after the image of his Maker; but receives his divine 
immortal soul in vain, whilst he follows the sway of 
his sensual irrational appetite, and " is compared to 
the beasts that perish'." 

4. And well it were for all such inconsiderate and 
imprudent persons, if their souls were as perishing 
and mortal as those which animate the beasts of the 
field. But to their eternal sorrow it is far otherwise : 
for there is an account to be given by every man of 
his immortal soul, and of the image of God stamped 
thereupon ; how this blessed image hath been either 
defaced or kept undefiled ; how it hath been obscured, 

f Psalm xlix. 12. 
® 



®_ ® 

52 THE GREAT NECESSITY [PART I. 

or how shined ; how deformed, or how beautified, 
through all the actions of each man's life. For " God 
will bring every work into judgment, with every secret 
thing, whether it be good or whether it be eviF." 

5. Upon every man's examination, both in his par- 
ticular, and in the general judgment, depends his ev- 
erlasting well-being, or undoing for ever : each man's 
condition then shall be unchangeable, whether it be 
of glory, or misery. " They that have done good, 
shall go into everlasting life ; and they that have done 
evil into everlasting fire' 1 ." The execution of this 
saying can no more fail, than the eternal God Him- 
self can fail, Who is the Fountain of truth and right- 
eousness. 

6. Since this great trial then shall be upon life 
and death eternal, it will be wisely done to try before- 
hand. Such is the advice of the wise Siracides : 
" Before judgment, examine thyself; and in the day 
of visitation thou shalt find mercy 1 ." 

To examine, accuse, judge and condemn thyself 
in this life, may, through the merits of Christ, acquit 
thee in the life to come. So saith the Apostle ; 
"If we would judge ourselves, we should not be 
judged'." 

7. Now then (sinful man) delay not to pass judg- 
ment upon thyself: remember that the great Judge 
Himself hath said it, "I will reprove thee, and set be- 
fore thee the things that thou hast done 1 ." Be wise 



g Eccles. xii. 14 ; Rom. ii. 16 : xiv. 10 ; 2 Cor. v. 10. h Matt. xxv. 46. 

i Ecclus. xviii. 20. k 1 Cor. xi. 31. I Psalm 1. 21. 

I 
® ® 



<•)- ® 

CHAP. I.] OF SELF-EXAMINATION. .")'.) 

then, and prevent this sad and dismal reproof, by set- 
ting in order before thyself all the sins of thy life. 
And to this trial of thyself, these following particulars 
do necessarily concur. 

(1.) A Tribunal must be erected; and this is not 
to be without thee, but within thee, even in thine own 
heart'". 

(*2.) The Judge to sit upon this seat of judicature, 
must be thy reason guided by the law of the Most 
High ; wherein beware of a misunderstanding and 
" wresting" of the letter of the law, to pass any un- 
just and partial sentence upon thyself, for that may 
undo thee for ever 11 . 

(3.) The Witnesses to be produced against thee, 
are, The conscience bearing witness, and the thoughts 
the meanwhile accusing or excusing one another : 
and thus shall it be also " in the day when God shall 
judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus"." 

(4.) The Executioners that stand ready to seize 
the criminal, are, Fear and Terror, and an horrible 
dread overwhelming the soul 1 . These do ever attend, 

(5.) Self-Condemnation, which is an unfeigned 
and sad acknowledgment to have incurred the dismal 
sentence of condemnation to death eternal. To pre- 
vent which, 

(6.) Execution must be done, and the blood of 
the guilty soul must be shed. 

It is not to be believed or hoped, that a black, dis- 

m 1 John iii. 20, 21. n 2 Pet. iii. 16. ? 

o Rom. ii. 15, 16. p Phil. ii. 12 ; Ps. Iv. 5. 

® ~ ® 



®_ — — ® 

54 THE GREAT NECESSITY [PART I. 

eased soul, should recover its health and beauty after 
the image of God, except she bleed plentifully ; bleed 
in the tears of compunction and godly sorrow ; bleed 
in the confession of her sins, with an abhorrence of 
them, for the filthiness, guilt, and danger contracted 
by them, so, as for the future, to renounce and abjure 
them for ever. 

8. Thus to examine, judge and condemn thyself, 
is the same Christian duty which is called Repent- 
ance. For as by self-examination, so by repentance, 
such as know not themselves, through pride and ig- 
norance, attain this saving knowledge in the acknow- 
ledgment of the truth, " and recover themselves out 
of the snares of the devil, who are taken captive by 
him at his willV The great necessity of repentance, 
in order to escape eternal perdition, is most clearly 
and positively affirmed by our Lord, saying, " Except 
ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish*"." And He 
saith the same words again, at the same time, and in 
the same text recorded; 1. To enforce the great ne- 
cessity of repentance, against all carnal, careless, self- 
conceited and seduced persons. 2. To manifest His 
great goodness, " Who would not have any to perish, 
but that all should come to repentance"." 

9. Sinners we are all, less or more 1 ; but God, in 
great mercy, has ordained and commanded repent- 
ance, as the great antidote against the poison of sin, 
and preservative from death' 1 . And that repentance, 



q 2 Tim. ii. 25, 26. r Luke xiii. 3, 5. 

s 2 Pet. iii. 9. t James iii. 2. u Matt. iii. 7, 8. 

I 

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CHAP. I.] OF SELF-EXAMINATION. 55 

which is thus salutary, consists of two general parts : 
1. To confess with sorrow our sins past ; 2. For ever 
to abjure and forsake them. And to such a true pen- 
itent only is mercy promised*. 

10. To both these general heads of true repent- 
ance, a full knowledge and deep sense of all heinous 
sins, even punctually and particularly, is absolutely 
necessary. For no man can confess his sins, who 
knows them not; nor forsake them, who is not feel- 
ingly sensible of the guilt and danger contracted by 
them v . 

Self-examination is therefore commanded, as a 
previous duty necessarily conducing to a true con- 
version 7 , or (which is the same) to a true repentance, 
both in respect of all its integral parts, and also of the 
fruits meet for repentance, which are no other but the 
" good works 3 " of a new obedience. 

11. " The just man falleth seven times 1 :" and up- 
on consideration of his seven times daily failings, he 
hath seven times daily confessions to the praise of 
God i ; with frequent lamentations in the night also. 6 . 
At least twice a day, morning and evening, he takes 
a view of his miscarriages the by-past day and night, 
confessing and bewailing his frequent backslidings ; 
and in all holy humility imploring, with tears of godly 
sorrow, the pardon of his daily offences, with firm 
resolution of more care and caution, more zeal of in- 



x Prov. xxviii. 13 ; John viii. 11 ; 1 John i. 9. y Psalm li. 3 ; Isaiah lix. 12. 
z Psalm iv. 4 ; Lam. iii. 40. a Col. i. 10. b Prov. xxiv. 16. 

c Psalm cxix. 164. d Jos. vii. 19. e Psalm vi. 6 ; Ixxvii. 6. 

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®- ® 

56 THE GREAT NECESSITY [PART I. 

nocence and purity both in heart and life, for the 
time to come. 

12. It is a great imprudence, even madness, in 
the hearts of men, to put off from day to day this self- 
examination, or reckoning with ourselves. Since it 
is difficult to account strictly for the misdemeanors 
of one day, how much more hard then to set straight 
and even the accounts of a long sinful life ! whereas 
he who daily accounts with himself, and his offended 
God, for his daily transgressions, shall have but one 
day's sins to account for upon his dying day f . 

13. We read of Moses, that his leprous hand was 
made whole, and recovered its native whiteness, by 
thrusting it into his bosom 11 : and thus is the soul 
cleansed from the leprosy of sin, by thrusting the 
hand, which is the instrument of action, into the bo- 
som of thine own conscience, to enter, and strictly to 
search into the inner man ; to ransack all the corners 
of the deceitful heart ; to examine what affections 
lurk there, and what excursions they have thence 
made into any extravagant and sinful actions ; that 
they may be thence ejected and abandoned. 

This is the way both to keep the heart pure, and 
the hands clean : hence comes both the knowledge of 
thyself, and the fear of God : hence comes sense of 
sin, holy compunction, godly sorrow, humiliation, and 
true repentance, in all its branches and worthy fruits. 
Hence the soul becomes inflamed with the ardent 
heats of holy devotion, and fervent prayers for pardon 

f Luke xii. 42, 43. g Exod. iv. 7. 

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OF SELF-EXAMINATION'. 



57 



and peace, mercy and grace, sanctification and re- 
demption. Hence arise in the heart holy resolves of 
new obedience, with holy breathings after God and 
His salvation. Therefore is this duty of self-exami- 
nation, called the magazine or storehouse of all Chris- 
tian virtue. 

14. And because, to receive worthily " the Com- 
munion of the Body and Blood of Christ," is the 
chiefest of all Christian performances, and requires 
the practice of all Christian virtues ; therefore, after 
an especial manner is self-examination commanded as 
a necessary preparative to that Sacramental feast ; 
which, from the doctrine of St. Paul, we are taught 
in the principles of our religion, where, in the last 
question of the Catechism it is demanded, " What is 
required of them that come to the Lord's Supper ?" 
and it is answered, " To examine themselves, whether 
they truly repent them of their former sins." 




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®^ 



-® 




CHAPTER II. 

THE RULE OF SELF-EXAMINATION BY THE VOW IN BAPTISM. 

Since self-examination is a duty of so great, so 
high, so general concernment as hath appeared ; it 
will be necessary that it be sincerely and thoroughly 
performed, not slightly, partially, and deceitfully ; 
not by any false rules and erring opinions, but by 
such a rule as will not deceive us, w T hen we shall 
come to our great examination and trial at the last 
day. 

2. There are too many who do flatter and deceive 
themselves, by a bare and naked faith in Christ ; by 
virtue whereof, they conceit themselves to be justified, 
and of the number of God's elect, and assured of sal- 
vation. But these are groundless presumptions, ex- 
cept thy "-faith" do "purify thy heart from all inordi- 
nate affections' 1 ;" and " cleanse thy hands from all 
sinful actions 1 ;" and be also "fruitful in all good 
works." 

It is an undoubted truth, that " whosoever believ- 
eth in the only-begotten Son of God, shall not perish, 
but shall have everlasting life 1 ." But then this saving' 
faith must not be only speculative in the brain, and 
fruitful in the fancy, and presumptive of the Divine 



h Acts xv. 9. 



i 2 Cor. vii. 1 j James iv. 



k John iii. 16. 



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$ . ® 

: LP. II.] EXAMINATION BY THE VOW IN BAPTISM. 59 

favour; but such a faith as is practical in the heart, 
lively, vigorous, and working by love, which is the 
fulfilling of the law, and implies an universal obedi- 
ence to the Gospel of Christ. 

3. The true rule of self-examination, which will 
not deceive us. is that according to which we shall 
be examined and tried at the last day ; and that is not 
our notions, and conceptions, and presumptions of or 
upon a bare faith in Christ, but the rule of Christian 
charity, as it is the life of faith, and a compendium of 
the holy Gospel of Christ . 

4. The sum of evangelical obedience, is expressed 
in that vow which every true Christian hath made 
when he was baptized or christened. And by this, 
as St. Gregory observes', every man may try the 
truth of his faith in Christ. For as no man can be 
said to be faithful, who* keeps not his promise : so 
neither can any Christian be said to have any true 
faith towards God, if he performs not the promise he 
hath made unto Him : for herein doth his righteous- 
ness consist, and hereupon his everlasting salvation 
depends, through the merits of Christ. 

5. This Baptismal vow, is the condition upon 
which we are admitted into the Covenant of Grace. 
and "made members of Christ, children of God, and 
heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven."' And therefore they 
who perform not this condition, but slight, neglect, or 
negligently observe the same, do uncovenant them- 
selves, and return again to their natural state of sin 

1 Matt. xxv. 35: 9 Thess. i. BL m Gregor. Horn. 19. 

i ® 



©_ ® 

60 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

and misery ; " become children of wrath, enemies of 
God, and heirs of eternal damnation"." 

6. The holy Christian religion we all profess, is 
no other but God's Will and Testament, wherein a 
goodly inheritance is promised and bequeathed ; but 
not to be obtained, as St. Augustine observes , except, 
as in all other testaments, we observe the will of the 
testator : nor is there any thing more clearly expressed 
in the revealed will of God, than this, That the bene- 
fits of the Covenant of Grace belong only to them, 
who keep the condition therein required 1 *. 

7. Every wilful sin is a breach of this covenant, 
and contracts therewith the sin of perjury, and incurs 
the forfeiture of all the precious benefits of the mem- 
bers of Christ, children of God, and heirs of Heaven : 
so that no man can reasonably conclude himself with- 
in the Covenant of Grace, until the leaven of wicked- 
ness, which is a breach of its condition, be strictly 
searched out and expurged . 

According therefore to this covenant, which we 
have every one (rightly christened) made with God, 
it concerns every man to examine himself, who hath 
any care of his soul. 

8. This condition consists of three general heads, 
called in Holy Writ by the three names of, 1. Re- 
pentance, 2. Faith, 3. Obedience, containing there- 
under the whole duty of a Christian man. 

9. Repentance consists not only in confession, 

n Heb. x. 23. 26—29. o Aug. Ser. de Tern. 167. 

p Deut. vii. 9, 10 ; Psalm xxv. 10 ; lxxxix. 28 — 32 ; ciii. 17, 18 ; cxxxii. 
11, 12 ; Jer. xi. 3—5 ; Heb. ii. 2, 3. q 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. 

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® (S 

CHAP. II.] THE VOW IN BAPTISM. 61 

with sorrow for sin past ; but in performance for the 
future of that grand evangelical duty whereby we for- 
sake sin, renounce all " fellowship with the unfruitful 
works of darkness r ," " deny ungodliness and worldly 
lusts 5 :" the which, with several more expressions of 
the same nature, are the very same in sense with the 
first part of our Baptismal vow ; viz. " To forsake the 
devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this 
wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh," 
which is frequently remembered to be one of the two 
main ends of all that Christ hath done and suffered 
for us 1 . 

10. This being therefore " the preparation of the 
Gospel of peace' 1 ,'' and " the foundation of religion 3 "/' 
is the first general rule of self-examination, 

BY THE FIRST PART, 

To forsake the devil and all Ms ivories ; 

And it highly concerns us surely to do this, since 
they are the children of the devil, who do his works 7 . 

The devil's first and general work was apostasy : 
he abode not in the truth ; " he kept not his first es- 
tate 2 ." Here then, in the first place, consider seriously 
and impartially, nay, daily, if not hourly, thou hast 
yielded to the suggestions of Satan, and become like 
unto him, by swerving from thy first profession of the 
holy Christian faith, and vow of obedience to God's 
commands when admitted into covenant with God in 
Baptism. 

r Eph. v. 11. s Tit. ii. 12. t Luke x. 17—19. Col. i. 13. Tit. ii. 19. Heb. ii. 14, 15. 
u Eph. vi. 15. x Heb. vi. 1. y John viii. 44. z Jude 6. 

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<§) <•) 

62 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

The more particular works of the devil, are, 

1. Pride ; whereby he fell from being an angel of 
light, to be a spirit of darkness". 

2. Lying ; for " he is a liar, and the father of it\" 

3. Malice, hatred, envy, with all the degrees of 
murder both in will and deed : "he was a murderer 
from the beginning . " 

4. Slander, backbiting, and " accusing of the 
brethren 1 ;" from whence he takes the name of devil. 

5. Tempting unto sin : that is the incessant work 
of the devil, who " continually goes about like a roar- 
ing lion, seeking whom he may devour 1 ." 

Examine then, whether, according to thy promise 
made unto God, thou hast manfully fought under the 
banner of Christ, against the crafts and assaults of the 
devil, tempting thee to any of these sins, or to any 
other miscarriage either in judgment or practice ; 
and hast not rather suffered thyself, oftener than thou 
canst possibly imagine, to be taken in his " snares, 
and led captive by him at his will'." 

The pomps and vanities of this toiclced world. 
These are, in other words, " the pride of life," 
and "the lust of the eyes," which are positively af- 
firmed to be inconsistent with the love of God*. 

Upon this head examine, 
1. Hath not thine heart been puffed up with the 
wind of vain-glory, which vents itself by boasting and 

a Isaiah xiv. 14, 15. b John, viii. 44. c Ibid. d Rev. xii. 10. 

e 1 Pet. v. 8. f 2 Tim. ii. 20. g 1 John ii. 16. 

0- (2) 



® — ® 

CHAP. II.] THE VOW IN BAPTISM. 63 

bragging of "vain things" of the world which profit 
not , by over-costly and garish apparel 1 , high vaunting, 
imperious language, strutting gait, affected gestures, 
supercilious and scornful looks', affecting and " re- 
ceiving the honour which is from man, more than the 
honour which cometh from God only 1 ?" 

2. Have you not esteemed yourself more than 
others your equals, if not superiors"; either in respect 
of your worldly wealth and estate, place of credit and 
superiority' 1 , greatness of wit, readiness of elocution, 
boldness to outvie, cunning to overreach your neigh- 
bour, or in any other of those worldly qualifications 
and endowments, which usually swell the vain minds 
of worldly men with conceitedness of their own worth, 
and makes them "love the praise of men more than 
the praise of God ?" 

3. Have no idle and lewd company, nor yet the 
ill example of others, allured you to follow any of 
those sinful customs of the world, which have some 
outward show of pomp and seeming bravery, but are 
really vain and empty of all true worth 5 ? Have you 
not delighted yourself in such "lying vanities," and 
loved even to be cozened both of your time and trea- 
sure in pursuance of them q ? 

Have you not loved and served mammon more 
than God r , by preferring the sordid service of your 
worldly ends and interests, before the sacred service 

h Psalm xii. 2. i Isaiah iii. 16, &c. k Ecclus. xix. 29, 30. 

1 John v. 44. m Phil. ii. 3. n Psalm xlix. 6. 

o John xii. 43. p Psalm cxliv. 11 ; Prov. i. 10, &<s. 
q Psalm iv. 2. r Matt. vi. 24. 

® ~ & 



®: _ ® 

64 EXAMINATION BY THE VOW IN BAPTISM. [PART I. 

of God, and the interests of your soul's health and 
happiness ? 

And all the sinful lusts of the flesh, 

1. Hath not the corrupt seed of carnal lust taken 
root in your heart, and brought forth in your life any 
of those sinful " fruits of the flesh," which are reckon- 
ed by St. Paul to be these ; Adultery, fornication, un- 
cleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, 
variance, emulations, strifes, seditions, heresies, envy- 
ings, murders, drunkenness, revelling, &c. s 

2. If upon the strict examination of your heart 
and life, you find yourself guilty in any of these re- 
spects, then remember what follows, that " they who 
do such things, shall not inherit the Kingdom of God:'' 
and such surely are not within the Covenant of Grace, 
neither have they any title to the promises thereof, 
whilst they continue in any of the forementioned sins 
unrepented ; for the promise only appertameth " to 
him that overcometh"," namely, "the devil and all 
his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked 
world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh." 

The more particular breaches of this first part of 
your Covenant with God, will appear upon examina- 
tion of yourself by those particular commands of God, 
which they do respectively transgress* 

s Gal. v. 19—21. t Gal. v. 21. u Rev. ii. 7. 11. 



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(s>- <§> 




CHAPTER III, 

THE RULE OF SELF-EXAMINATION BY THE CREED ; OR, BY THE 
SECOND PART OF THE VOW IN BAPTISM, " TO BELIEVE ALL THE 
ARTICLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH." 

" He that believes" (all the fundamental articles 
of the Christian faith) " shall be saved; but he ehat 
believeth not, shall be danined 5 ." 

Here then examine, 

1. If you have learned, being young, what are 
these articles or points of Christian faith whereunto 
you were baptized or christened ; and if you can now 
give a ready account of your faith ; and this both in 
the very words of your Creed, and also in the full 
sense and true meaning of each article thereof h . 

2. Do you steadfastly believe the infallible truth of 
each article, though perhaps you understand it not in 
its full extent ? Are you zealously affected with them 
all, resolved to die in this faith, and, if occasion be, 
to die for it, "resisting even unto blood 1 ," whatever 
may oppose or infringe the same ; " earnestly con- 
tending for that faith which was once given to (or by) 
the Saints," the holy Apostles of our Lord !< ? 

g Mark xvi. 16 ; John xii. 48. hi Pet. iii. 15. 

i 1 Tim. vi. 12 ; 2 Tim. iv. 7. k Jude 3. 

5 

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® ® 

66 SELF-EXAMINATION BY THE CREED. [PART I. 

3. Dost thou not only believe with the heart, but 
also frequently confess this faith with the mouth ? for 
as " with the heart man believeth unto righteousness," 
so, " with the mouth confession is made unto salva- 
tion 1 ." 

4. Have neither the senseless neglect of some, nor 
the profane scoffs of others, made thee also neglect 
or be ashamed to confess thy faith in public ? And 
if so, thy faith is not sincere : for he that truly " be- 
lieveth in God, will not be ashamed™" openly to pro- 
fess it ; remembering that there is a dismal shame and 
confusion of face threatened to him that is " ashamed 
of Christ and His words"," which are summed up in 
the Creed. 

5. Hast thou lived in the practice of this faith, 
framing both the affections of thy heart, and the ac- 
tions of thy life , according to what each article doth 
imply, and implicitly command ? For thus " the just 
man lives by his faith p ." 

6. Have you not been mistaken in the nature of 
a true Christian faith, making it to be a presumption 
upon the promises of the Gospel abstract from obe- 
dience to the precepts thereof? And hath not thy 
faith been rather notional in the brain, than practical 
in the heart and life? been more in talk and dispute, 
and verbal profession, than in love and good works q , 
and holy conversation? For " the kingdom of God 
is not in word but in power r " of holy actions, or in 
the keeping the Covenant of thy God. 



1 Rom. x. 10. m Rom. x. 11. n Mark viii. 38. o James ii. 18. 
p Hab. ii. 4 ; Rom. i. 17. q Gal. v. 6 3 James ii. 17, r 1 Cor. iv. 20. 



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<•) ® 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE RULE OF SELF-EXAMINATION BY THE DECALOGUE ; OR, SY 
THE THIRD PART OF THE VOW IN BAPTISM, " TO KEEP GOD'S 
HOLY "WILL AND COMMANDMENTS, AND TO WALK IN THE SAME 
ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE." 

To obey God's commands, is properly to " serve" 
Him 5 ; which is frequently affirmed to be the plain 
road-way to Heaven 1 . 

And it were a high presumption, as St. Augustine 
observes, to hope to obtain what God has promised, 
except we carefully observe what He has commanded. 

These commandments are " the same which God 
spake in the twentieth chapter of Exodus"," the rule 
of righteousness being the same under the Law and 
under the Gospel ; only in the one it is more plainly 
and fully understood than in the other. 

Here then a more large and particular examination 
of thyself is required ; by all the duties commanded 
and sins forbidden in the precepts of the moral law. 

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 

£1)ou sjjalt i)abe nxine otjer <&otrs fctft J&e. 

EXAMINATION BY THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 

The duties enjoined in this commandment, are, 

s Eccles. xii. 13. t Matt. xix. 17 ; Rev. xiv. 12. Aug. de Sanct. 

u Matt. xix. 18, 19 ; Mark x. 19. 



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68 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

I. To believe in God. 

Since faith in God, is the ground of all religious 
worship, examine, 

First, Whether truly and without all doubting, 
or harbouring any secret atheistical thoughts x , you 
do believe the being of God and His providence over 
all. 

Secondly, That you believe of Him what He truly 
is, a pure, spiritual, invisible Essence 7 , a God most 
wise 2 , most holy, eternal, and infinite, infinitely mer- 
ciful and infinitely just% infinitely great and glorious b , 
omnipotent and immortal, without beginning of days, 
or end of time ; and, in a word, that His excellency, 
perfection, and felicity in Himself d , is beyond all that 
the wit of man or angel can conceive 6 . 

Thirdly, That you believe in Him as the great 
Creator of the world f , Redeemer of all men, and 
Sanctifier of His Church and people, Three Persons, 
Father, Son and Holy Ghost g , one God over all, blessed 
for ever. 

And because the faith of most is but notional and 
verbal only, daily decaying as the world draws nearer 
to an end h , examine the sincerity of your faith by 
these essential properties thereof. 

1. If it purify your hearts from all unworthy 
thoughts of God 1 , and vile affections that separate from 
Him. 

x Heb. xi. 6. y John iv. 24. z 1 Tim. i. 17, a Ecclus. xvi. 11, 12. 
b Psalm lxxvii. 13, 14 ; Deut. xxviii. 58. c Psalm xc. 2. d Matt. v. 48. 
e Job xi. 17. f Isaiah xl. 28. g Matt, xxviii, 19 ; 1 John v. 7. 

h Luke xviii. 8. i Acts xv. 9. 

® — ® 



<•> : ® 

CHAP. IV.] THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 69 

2. If it increase Divine love in your heart : which 
was Mary Magdalen's faith". 

3. If it make you devout and intense in your 
prayers : which was the woman of Canaan's faith 1 . 

4. If thereby you cleave unto God, and make Him 
your choice, above all the pleasures and treasures of 
the world : which was Moses's faith"'. 

5. If it make you strong, to resist even unto 
blood : which was the faith of all Martyrs". 

6. If it bring forth the fruits of good works : which 
was Cornelius's faith, and is the life of faith . 

II. To trust in Him. 

1. Examine, first, w r hether both in prosperity and 
adversity your mind hath so been stayed in the Lord, 
as not to be puffed up by the one, or dejected by the 
other p . 

2. Have you not betrayed your trust in the care 
and providence of God q , so as either to distract your 
mind with carking cares for worldly concerns, or yet 
to use any unlawful means to acquire or preserve 
health, wealth, credit, liberty, or life itself? 

3. Have you not " leaned to your own under- 
standing 1 "," trusted to your own wit, policy, strength, 
riches 5 , nor yet in the favour and power of any mortal 
man 1 , to the weakening of your dependence on God 
alone ? 

k Luke vii. 47. 1 Matt. xv. 28. m Heb. xi. 24—26. 

n Heb. xi. 33, 34. o Act? x. 2 ; James ii. 26. p Psalm Ixii. 1 ; 

2 Thess. iii. 3. q 1 Pet, v. 7. r Prov. iii. 5. si Tim. v. 17. 

t Jer. xvii. 5, 7. 

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(§)— — — ® 

70 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

III. To hope in Him. 

1. Whether to enjoy God, and those joys which 
are in His presence attainable' 1 , be the great and 
main object of your hope*, as being created after His 
image, and to attain the perfection of your being in 
the beatifical enjoyment of His sacred Majesty 7 . 

2. Hath your hope to enjoy God been accompa- 
nied with a conformity to the nature of God, " being 
holy as He is holy, merciful as He is merciful 2 ? 77 
For you hope in vain to see God in Heaven and enjoy 
Him, except you be Godlike a . 

3. Have you so hoped to enjoy the promises of 
God, as to obey His precepts, and be fruitful in all 
good works? " Hope in the Lord, and be doing 
goodV your hope is otherwise but a sinful presump- 
tion, or at the best but " the hope of the hypocrite 
that perisheth . 77 

4. Hath not your hope in the mercies of God, 
through the merits of Christ, emboldened you to go 
on in any known sin unrepented of, and banished 
grace out of thy heart ? 

IV. To fear God, 

1. Hath thy fear of God's judgments equally bal- 
anced thy hope in His mercies, revering His justice, 
and the direful threats and examples thereof in His 
holy Word, so as not to dare to sin against Him ? 
" Fear the Lord, and depart from evil 1 . 75 

u Psalm xvi. 11. x Psalm Ixxi. 5 ; Jer. xvii. 7. y Psalm Ixxiii. 

24—26. z 1 Pet, i. 15, 16 ; Luke vi. 36. a Matt. v. 8, 9. b Psalm 

xxxvii. 3. c Job viii. 13. d Psalm iv. 5; Prov. iii. 7; Phil. ii. 12. 

<5) 



® -® 

CHAP. IV.] THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 71 

*2. Have you not more feared to sin in the sight 
of men, than in the presence of God ; more feared to 
displease man, than to incur the displeasure of the 
Almighty ; more feared to lose thy credit amongst thy 
neighbours and companions, than to hazard the loss 
of God's favour; nor yet more feared the penalty of 
human laws, than the threatenings of the Divine 6 ? 

3. Hath thy fear of God been rather filial, a fear 
to offend so gracious a Father ; than servile, for fear 
of punishment 1 ? But because we are commanded 
" to work out our salvation with fear and trembling 5 :" 
examine, whether the filial fear of God prevail in your 
heart, and gather strength over the servile fear, till at 
last it be quite " cast out by perfect love h ;" which is 
the next duty in this commandment enjoined. 

V. To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
with all, fyc v 

This Divine love includes all these graces, and 
all the particulars of the duties we owe unto God 1 . 
And because every man pretends to love God, how 
falsely and deceitfully soever he think or say it, there- 
fore this Divine affection is to be strictly examined 
by these following rules. 

And, 1. As thy hope, so thy love of God is not 
sincere, except thou be in some good measure con- 
formed to his nature, " pure, as He is pure," " just," 
" good," " gracious," — as God is so. H Be ye follow- 
ers of God as dear children, and walk in love k ." 



e Prov. xxix. 25 f Isaiah li. 12 3 Luke xii. 4, 5. g Phil. ii. 12. 

h 1 John iv. 18. i Matt. vii. 22 ; 1 Cor. xiii. 1, 2, &c. k Eph. v. 1, 2. 



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® <•> 

72 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

2. If the will of God be the rule of thy will, and 
moderator of all thy affections, loving what He loves, 
hating what He hates 1 , even to the love of thine ene- 
mies™, and hatred of thy friends, if in competition 
with the love of God 11 . 

3. If the chief end of all your actions be to please 
God, more than to please yourself, or to pleasure any 
person, how great and high, how near or dear so- 
ever . 

4. If it be the joy of your heart to come into the 
House of the Lord p ; to converse with Him in holy 
prayers, public and private ; to contemplate His per- 
fections and felicities, so as to be inflamed with long- 
ing desires and affectionate breathings after Him ; to 
glorify Him both with heart and voice, both with your 
lips and in your life q , 

5. If you be quick, ready, active, regular, and 
constant in your obedience to all His commandments 1 ". 

6. If you long to have a more full enjoyment of 
God in the world to come ; and do not rather prefer 
a troublesome temporary abode in this life, before the 
pleasures of God's right hand in the other 5 . 

By these rules you may examine yourself, whe- 
ther you love God " in deed and in truth," and not in 
conceit and verbally only. 

VI. To call upon God, and give Him thanks. 
In the habitual practice of the former graces of 

1 Psalm xcvii. 10. m Matt. v. 44. n Lake xiv. 26. o 1 Thess. 

ii. 4 ; Matt, xviii. 8 ; Matt. x. 37. p Psalm cxxii. 1 ; Isaiah ii. 3 -, Psalm 

xxvii. 4 5 Psalm xlii. 1,2$ Psalm lxxi. 20, &c. q Matt. v. 16; 1 Pet. 

ii. 12. r John xiv. 15. s Psalm lxiii. 1, 2 ; 2 Cor. iv. 18 ; v. 1—3. 

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CHAP. IV.] THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 73 

the Spirit, consists the " worship of God in spirit 1 :" 
and they are all put in practice chiefly by holy prayers 
unto God and praises of Him", which is therefore the 
principal part of God's outward worship. And, 

1. Here examine how frequently you have slighted 
and omitted to call upon God x , being hereunto 
obliged, both publicly in the congregation, and pri- 
vately in your closet, morning and evening at least, 
signified by the " morning and evening sacrifice. 53 

2. How often hath any slight occasion and pretence 
made you neglect this indispensable duty of prayer, 
especially the Public Prayers of the Church ? and 
have you not been secretly glad when any such occa- 
sion hath happened ? 

3. Being come into the House of God, have you 
not neglected to join in the Prayers and Service of 
God there celebrated, and, through ignorance and 
dulness, or a sinful shame, omitted to " lift up your 
voice in the congregation, to praise the Lord in 
hymns and psalms and spiritual songs V an d audibly 
to say Amen to the Prayers of the Church ? For it is 
not the Minister's duty only to pray and preach in the 
Church ; but " in the Temple of the Lord doth every 
man speak of His honour 7 ." 

4. Have you not been "too rash with your mouth 
to utter any thing before God a ," that is either unfit, 
impertinent, or unlawful to be asked ; but have first 
weighed all your words in " the balance of the Sanc- 

t John iv. 23, 24. u Psalm 1. 23. x Psalm cxxxiv. 2 ; Matt. vi. 

6; Psalm lv. 17 ; Eccles. xi. 6. y Eph. v. 19 ; Psalm cvi. 48. z Psalm 
xxix. 9. a Eccles. v. 2. 

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74 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART L 

tuary b ," and have framed all your prayers according 
to the pattern which our Lord hath given us, both by 
His own prayer and the prayers of His Church ? 

5. Have you prayed for others ; for all superiors, 
and relations of every kind , and not only for such as 
are your friends, but for your very enemies also d ? 

6. Have you first endeavoured to " purify your 
heart"" from all hypocrisy, and to " cleanse your 
hands" from all your actual sins by true repentance, 
before you make your approaches to the most holy 
God by prayer ? 

7. Do you practise as you pray, in the careful use 
of those means which God hath appointed, to obtain 
your petitions f ? 

8. Do you daily praise God for His great glories 
in Himself, and give Him thanks for His manifold 
graces% both general to all men, special to His 
Church and people, and particular to yourself ex- 
pressed ? And do you show forth the praises of God, 
not only with your lips, but in the good works of 
your life, that others may be thereby excited to glorify 
Godalso h ? 

b Hos. xiv. 2 ; Matt. vi. 9. c 1 Tim. ii. 1. d Matt. v. 44. 

e James iv. 8. f James i. 6—8. g Eph. v. 20. h Matt. v. 16. 




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CHAP. IV.] THE SECOND COMMANDMENT, 75 

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. 
<Tl)ou atyalt not mafce to t])i>self mv gtaten image, fct, 

aXAMDJA^IOH BY THE SECOND COMMANDMEifT. 

Have you not in your phantasy, misrepresented 
the most pure and spiritual God, under any bodily 
shape or visible being whatsoever 1 ? 

2. Have you not served the creature more than 
the Creator, making " a god of the world k " by ambi- 
tion, and " covetousness, which is idolatry 1 ," or " a 
god of your belly™" by luxury, and the too much in- 
dulging of carnal delights ? 

3. Have you not " set up your idols in your own 
heart 11 ," idolized your own imaginations , by believing 
and worshipping God otherwise than himself hath 
prescribed, either immediately in His holy Word , or 
mediately by the ministry of His holy and true 
Church -? 

4. Have you worshipped God as with all internal 
devotion of soul, so also with all external, humble, 
and low prostration of body r ? For in being forbidden 
to fall down to serve idols, or any false gods, you are 
thereby bidden to fall down in serving the Lord. 

5. If " you abhor idols'," examine if you have not 
been guilty of sacrilege, which "is to rob God in 
tithes and offerings 1 ," or of whatsoever is devoted to 
His service. Both of which sins are equally con- 

i Deut. iv. 15, &c. k Rom. i. 25. 1 Col. iii. 5. 

m Phil. iii. 19. n Ezek. xiv. 4j Psalm lxxxi.9, 12. 

o 2 Cor. x. 5. p Deut. iv. 2. q Heb. xiii. 7. 

r Psalm xiv. 6; 1 Cor. vi. 20. s Rom. ii. 20. t Mai. iii. 8. 

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76 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

demned by this law : for as by idolatry, God is robbed 
in His service ; so by sacrilege, in the support and 
maintenance of His service. 

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

2Tj)oit sjalt not tafce tjje Name of tfje 3LorTr tyv <£olf m batn, 

EXAMINATION BY THE THIBD COMMANDMENT. 

Have you not profaned the Name of God, either, 

1. In your thoughts, by entertaining any misbe- 
coming apprehensions of God's Majesty, and such as 
are vain and mean, and far below the Name of God, 
which is " Great," " Wonderful," and "Holy u ?" or, 

2. In your words x , by any scurrilous and irrev- 
erent discourses of God, or impertinent and unseemly 
addresses unto Him ? or, 

3. In your actions, by the ungodliness and injus- 
tice of your conversation, giving occasion to others 
"to blaspheme His Name 7 ?" 

4. Have you taken no false 2 and unlawful* oaths, 
nor yet been guilty of too ordinary, customary swear- 
ing in discourse, or cursing by the dreadful Name of 
God, which is only to be mentioned for adoration and 
blessing ? 

5. Have you carefully observed those lawful oaths 
you have taken in order to subjection to higher pow- 
ers, nor yet have taken any that have been contrary 
thereunto" ? 

u Psalm xcix. 3. x James ii. 7. y 2 Sam. xii. 14 3 Rom. ii. 23, 24. 

z Lev. xix. 12. a Matt. v. 34 3 James v. 12 3 Psalm cix. 17. b Ezek. 

xvii. 18, 19 3 Zech. viii. 17. 

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(•)— -(•) 

CHAP. IV.] THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 77 

6. Have you to the utmost of your power observed 
all just promises made unto others, though to your 
prejudice in your outward affairs ? 

And because the Name of God is to be honoured 
in all things that have His Name enstamped there- 
upon' 1 ; you may therefore upon this commandment 
examine as to the duties you owe, first, To the Word : 
secondly, To the Sacraments'; thirdly, To the House 
of God. 

As to the Word of God. 

1. Have you a far more venerable esteem for the 
" Word of God," than for " the word of man 6 ," though 
spoken in the pulpit, wisely distinguishing betwixt 
the Divine inspiration of the one, and the human in- 
vention of the other ? 

2. Do you believe unfeignedly all that God hath 
spoken in His holy Word, whether by doctrine or ex- 
ample, promises or threatenings f ? and have the prom- 
ises of God's Word allured you to obey its precepts, 
and the threats 5 (confirmed by examples) deterred you 
from doing what is therein prohibited ? 

3. Have you not placed your religion in the bare 
reading of Holy Scriptures, and hearing of Sermons, 
without due consideration of the weight and true 
meaning of what you have heard or read h , and with- 
out the careful practice thereof in your life 1 ? 

4. Have you not made your own " private inter- 

c Psalm xv. 4. d Lev. xxi. 6 ; Deut, xxviii. 58 ; Jer. xxxiv. 15, 16. 

e 1 Thess. ii. 13. f Psalm xix. 7, &c. g Psalm xc. 11. h Mark 

iv. 24. i James ii. 22. 

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<§> ■ ® 

78 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

pretation" of Scriptures'", nor " wrested" any text to 
another sense than the Holy Spirit of God intended 
therein, either to please your own fancy, or maintain 
some private opinion" 1 , or to minister to contention 
and dispute"? 

5. Have you not used the Word of God in ordi- 
nary and common talk, either to excite to merriment 
and laughter, or to show your own wit, and secretly 
boast of your reading and readiness therein ? 

As to the Sacraments which Christ hath ordained in 
His Church. 

1. In general; Have you a very high and holy 
esteem for those blessed means of grace and mysteries 
of salvation, believing unfeignedly the great necessity 
and efficacy both of Baptism and the Lord's Supper , 
and not upon any pretext or pretences neglecting the 
devout and reverent use of either, as occasion and 
opportunity hath been offered ? 

2. Have you not profaned the consecrated Ele- 
ments of either Sacrament, by esteeming and using 
them as common things p ? 

3. As to Baptism in particular, your grand duty is, 
to examine yourself frequently by that solemn vow 
you made when christened, confessing and bewailing 
your manifold transgressions thereof, and daily re- 
newing your covenant with God ; resolving and prom- 
ising daily to forsake the devil, the world, and the 

k 2 Pet. i. 20. 1 2 Pet. iii. 16. m 1 Tim. vi. 3—5. 

n Tit. iii. 9. o John iii. 5 j vi. 53. p Acts x. 14, 15. 

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<•) — ® 

CHAP. IV.] THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 79 

flesh, and devoting yourself to the sacred service of 
God by a true and lively faith, and obedience to His 
commandments. The breach of which vow unto God 
is a greater offence than that of ordinary swearing : 
because in the one God is but called upon as a Wit- 
ness; but in the other he is a Party concerned. 

Concerning the Sacrament of the holy Body and 
Blood of Christ, examine, 

1. How often you have neglected to come, being 
invited, to that blessed feast q . And here consider the 
causes of this sin: which are, 1. Ignorance of your 
duty 1 ", joined with a slothful and careless neglect to 
take pains for instruction, or apply yourself to your 
Pastor for direction. 2. The terror of unworthy re- 
ceiving considered 5 , but the duty to receive not re- 
membered. 3. Impenitence, and continuance in sirr, 
preferred before the sacred religious actions of a due 
preparation, and devout participation of that Bread of 
Life. 

2. Notwithstanding which impediments, examine, 
Have you not presumed to come to that sacred feast, 
being ignorant of the nature, of the ends, and benefits 
thereof, and so received the same unworthily, " not 
discerning the Lord's Body" 1" Or having know T - 
ledge, 

3. Have you accordingly prepared yourself aright, 
to come unto that celestial banquet; and that, 1. By 
a thorough examination of yourself, to find out your 



q Isaiah to. 1—3. r Isaiah v. 13. s 1 Cor. xi. 28, 29. 

t Isaiah to, 7. u 1 Cor. xi. 27, 29. 

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80 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

sins and failings 1 *, 2, by a full confession of them to 
God, and in some cases to man, and that, 3, with all 
contrition and godly sorrow for sin, and 4, with a full 
purpose of amendment ; renewing your covenant with 
God", contracted in the foregoing sacrament of Bap- 
tism, and now to be sealed in the sacrament of Christ's 
Blood. 

Have you with all reverence and humility 7 ', both 
of soul and body, approached to that Sacrament ? and 
have you received the same, 1, with a lively faith in 
the mercies of God, through the merits of Christ* ; 2, 
with all devotion and thankfulness of heart, in the 
grateful acknowledgment of God's infinite love, in 
giving His Son to be both " the price" of your re- 
demption, and "the food" of your soul b ; 3, with an 
entire and unfeigned charity towards all men ; 4, be- 
ing inwardly affected with a spiritual joy in the 
Lord 1 . 

5. After the participation of those Divine mys- 
teries, examine i 1. Whether you feel your former sin- 
ful motions, sensual and worldly lusts dying and de- 
caying in your heart ; 2* Whether you have any sense 
of God's mercy refreshing your soul as to the pardon 
of your sins past 6 ; and 3. Of grace quickening and 
strengthening you to serve God more sincerely and 
industriously for the time to come. If not, you may 
justly suspect yourself guilty, either of an undue pre-' 

x 1 Sam. vii. 6 ; James iv. 8—10 ; Acts iii. 19. y Heb. X. 16, 17. 

z 1 Cor. vi. 20. a Rom. v. 1,2. b John iii. 16 ; 1 Tim. i 15 ; 1 

Pet. i 18, 19 ; John vi. 51. c Matt. v. 23—25. d Isaiah xii. 3. 

e Rom. xiv. 17. 



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o _ @ 

CHAP. IV.] THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 81 

paration, or some sinful defect in the participation 
thereof 

And because the Name of God is called not only 
upon His Word and Sacraments, but also upon the 
place where those are administered ; examine whether 
you have made your approaches to that House which 
is called by His Name, " the Temple of the Lord," 
" the House of God/' &c, and demeaned yourself 
therein with that lowly reverence and humility'-, both 
inward and outward, as becomes the place that is 
separate to His service, and sanctified by His special 
Presence therein' 1 . If otherwise, remember with hor- 
ror, " if any one defile" or profane " the Temple of 
the Lord, him shall God destroy ; for the Temple of 
God is Holy 1 ." 

It is here objected, that the immediate following 
words, " which Temple ye are," do imply this text to 
relate to Holy Persons, not to any Holy Houses of 
God. But it is answered, That this makes not void 
that duty of holiness which becometh the House of 
God, but rather confirms the same : for these words, 
" which Temple ye are," are an illation or conse- 
quence flowing from this which the Apostle takes for 
an undeniable principle, " The Temple of God is 
Holy." And the plain and full meaning of the whole 
verse is in other words briefly this. The Material 
Temple, or House of God, is a figure of the Mystical 
Temple, or people of God. As therefore the Material 
Temple is an holy place, being sanctified to the holy 

f 1 Cor. iii. 17 ; Psalm xciii 5 j Matt. xxi. 13. g Psalm v. 7; cxxxii. 7. 
h Psalm xi. 14 ; Hab ii. 20. i 1 Cor. iii. 17. 

6 

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82 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

service of the most holy God ; and whosoever profanes 
the same, by irreverent and indecent carriage there, 
him will God destroy ; so the people of God, being 
His Mystical Temple, must keep themselves undefiled 
and pure both in heart and life, that God destroy them 
not. 

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. 

Skemerober tjjat tjou keep i}oI» tfje <Saift3ti>2i3i>, &c. 

EXAMINATION BY THS FOURTH COMMANDMENT, 

Have you wisely distinguished betwixt times sa- 
cred and profane 1 ", by esteeming of such days as are 
devoted to the service of God, in a select and separate 
respect, from such as are common or ordinary days 
allowed for the service of man ? 

2. Have you not omitted the Christian duties re- 
quired to the sanctification of the Lord's Day, and of 
every day holy to the Lord; 1, the public prayers 
with thanksgivings, the " psalms and hymns and spir- 
itual songs 1 " in the Lord's House; 2, the offices of 
charity, alms-deeds, visiting the sick m ? 

3. Have you not profaned any days devoted to God's 
Public Worship, by doing such servile works that 
might be omitted, or by going unnecessary journeys, 
or by spending the same in idle or vain sports, luxury 
and wantonness"? 

4. Have you observed not only the Festival days, 

k Ecclus. xxxiii. 7 — 9. 1 Eph. v. 19 ; Isaiah \vi. 7. m Matt. 

xii. 12 j Mark iii. 4. n Isaiah lvi. 2 ; Exodus xx. 10 ; Isaiah lviii. 13. 

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®— -® 

CHAP. IV.] THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 83 

but also those days of fasting and humiliation , which 
hath been observed in all ages of the Church of Christ, 
by the devout people of God, and are enjoined by law- 
ful superiors, in order to the obedience we owe to 
the commands of God p ? 

5. Have you kept the true Christian spiritual Sab- 
bath, which is, to rest from the service of sin, and to 
be wholly devoted to the service of God here q ; so that 
you may reasonably hope to keep an eternal sabbath 
of peace and joy with God, and all the choir of Heav- 
en hereafter ? 

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 

honour X\yo father antr fyv mother, &z< 

EXAMINATION BY THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT, 

The Christian duties enjoined in this command- 
ment, are as many as there are relations of superiority 
and inferiority amongst men. 

1. As to your natural parents 1 " : Have you not 
been stubborn and irreverent in your carriage towards 
them ? Have you not secretly despised them in your 
heart, nor openly published their infirmities 5 ? Have 
you not slighted their wholesome admonitions, nor 
disobeyed their lawful commands 1 ? Have you not 
neglected to comfort and relieve them, to the best of 
your power and skill, in their sickness, wants, weak- 

o Joel i. 14 ; Matt. vi. 16 ; 1 Cor. vii. 5. p Lev. xvi. 29, 30. q Heb. 
iv. 9—11. r Deut. xxi. 18, 19 ; Prov. xx. 20 ; xxiii. 25. s Prov. xxx. 

17. t Prov. i. 8 ; iv. 1 ; xiii. 1 ; Eph. v, 1 ; Ecclus. iii. 12, 13. 

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® — ; ' — ■ 

84 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

ness, and old age ? and have you not secretly coveted 
their estates, though by their death u ? 

2. If you be a father or a mother of children, ex- 
amine, 1. Have you taken care to see they were right- 
ly and in due time baptized ? 2. That they be taught, 
as soon as they are able to learn x , what a solemn vow 
was made in their name when baptized, with the prin- 
ciples of religion implied therein, and depending 
thereupon ? 3. To correct them for their offences, 
that they contract not a custom in sin y ? 4. To give 
them good example ? 5. To pray for them in private, 
and openly to give them your blessing" ? 6. To pro- 
vide for them according to your ability 1 ; and not to 
spend in needless riot, or otherwise, what ought to 
have been reserved for their maintenance 1 

3. As to your civil father, who is " the King as 
supreme 11 ;" Have you not been censorious and mal- 
apert, in judging and traducing him or his govern- 
ment ? Have you not grudged to pay him toll or tri- 
bute ; refused to obey his lawful commands ; had no 
hand in rising up against him, nor contributed there- 
unto, by sowing sedition and faction, spreading infa- 
mous reports 1 

4. As to your spiritual fathers, the Bishops and 
Pastors of Christ's Church" ? Have you not despised 
their calling , but honoured them according to their 
respective degrees and stations in the Church of 

u Mark vii. 11, 12. x Eph. vi. 4. y Heb. xii. 9 — 11. z Ecclus. 
iii. 9. a 1 Tim. v. 8. b 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14 ; Jude 8 ; 2 Pet. ii. 10, 11. 

c Rom. xiii. 6. d Tit. iii. 1 j Rom. xiii. 1, 2 ; Prov. xxiv. 21 ; Eccles. 

x. 20. e 1 Tim. iii. 1, 13. f Luke x. 16 ; 1 Tim. v. 17. 



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® 

CHAP. IV.] THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 85 

Christ ? Have you not slighted and disobeyed those 
commands and admonitions which God by them hath 
given you- ? Have you not denied or diminished their 
dues, or paid them grudgingly? Have you not for- 
saken your lawful Pastor, to follow after factious 
preachers, or such who more tickle your itching ears 1 ' ; 
which is the issue of a corrupt heart, and the high- 
road to error and falsehood ] Have you not been an- 
gry, when told of your faults, or put in mind of the 
errors of your ways, and refused to return and amend 
thereupon 1 ? 

5. Have you been respective and lowly in your 
demeanour to all your superiors, whether in age or 
office, learning or judgment, temporal estate and pre- 
ferment, giving to each the honour due to their res- 
pective conditions 1 '; and this though you have no de- 
pendence upon them, nor hopes to receive any bene- 
fits from them 1 

6. Have you been meek, gentle, courteous, and 
affable unto all men, as becomes the spirit of a true 
Christian' ; not high and haughty, churlish and dis- 
tasteful, in your carriage towards any ; slighting, un- 
dervaluing, scorning your equals, if not your betters, 
in some respects? However, the truly humble good 
Christian " esteems others better than himself "V 

7. If you have any person under your command, 
as a master of a family 1 , Have you not been over-harsh 
and rigorous towards any of your servants, nor de- 

g Heb. xiii. 17 ; Ecelus. vii. 29. h John x. 4, 5 5 2 Tim. iv. 3, 4. 

i Prov. xxix. 1 ; Isaiah xxix. 21. k Rom. xii. 10 ; 2 Tim. ii. 20 ; 1 Pet. 

ii. 17. 1 Tit. iii. 3. m Phil. ii. 3. n Eph. vi. 9. 

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86 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

frauded them of their wages 1 and have you preserved 
them, to your power, from the wrongs of others ? and 
have you taken care, what in you lies, for the good of 
their souls ; that they be catechized in the principles 
of religion, and duly frequent the Public Worship of 
God, both in church and family p ? 

8. If you be a servant, examine, Have you been 
obedient to your master in all his lawful commands 01 ? 
just and true in the managing his business, so that he 
hath suffered no loss, either by your carelessness or 
dishonesty ? and hath your carriage towards him been 
submissive and meek, not answering again, when pro- 
voked by hard language ? 

9. In a word, Have you obeyed that admonition 
of St. Paul, which is the more full meaning of this 
fifth commandment, " Render therefore to all men 
their due ; tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to 
whom custom, fear to whom fear, honour to whom 
honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one 
another ; for he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the 
lawV 

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 
<lT:;ou sfcalt tro no murtier. 

EXAMINATION BY THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 

There are several degrees of murder in this law 
prohibited ; and though you have not been guilty 
thereof by bloodshed, yet examine, 

o 1 Sam. xii. 3. p Gen. xviii. 19 ; Josh. xxiv. 15. q Eph. vi. 

5 ; Tit. ii. 9, 10. r Horn. xiii. 7, 8. 

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® (5) 

CHAP. IV.] THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 87 

1. Have you not been guilty of immoderate an- 
ger 5 , been peevish, and disquieted at trifles, at slight 
miscarriages of others, and inconsiderable accidents 
about you ? 

2. Hath not your anger swelled into wrath and 
fury 1 , nor been drawn out into hatred and malice, nor 
broken out into bitter and opprobrious language, ren- 
dering evil for evil, and railing for railing 11 ;" brawl- 
ing and quarrelling for any offence ; going to law 
upon petty and small occasions of trespass*? 

3. Have you not " envied 3 " the good parts and 
endowments, or the wealth and preferments, or the 
flourishing estate of others, in any respect, though 
they may be wicked and unworthy? 

4. Have you harboured no secret grudge in your 
heart towards any person, nor entertained any secret 
thoughts and desires of " revenge 2 ?" 

5. Have you not secretly rejoiced at the losses, 
crosses, disgraces, or death of any 1 ? 

6. Have you no way impaired the health either of 
the souls or bodies of others ; either by hurting, maim- 
ing, wounding any person in body' 1 , or tempting them 
to sin, to the ruin of their souls, or provoking their 
spirits, or neglecting to perform the Christian duties 
of charity, both corporal and spiritual, unto them c ? 

7. Hath your demeanor been with all meekness 
and humility 1 ; being loving, kind, tender-hearted, 

s Matt. v. 21, 22. t Prov. xxvii. 3, 4 ; Eph. iv. 31 5 James i. 19 ; 

Matt. v. 22. u 1 Pet. iii. 9. x Matt. v. 40. y Psalm xxxvii. 

1 ; Rom. xiii. 13. z Lev. xix. 18 ; Matt. v. 38. a Prov. xxiv. 17 ; 

Rom. xii. 15. b Exod. xxi. 22, &c. c Matt, xviii. 6 ; Gal. v. 26. 

d Matt. xi. 29 ; Eph. iv. 32. 

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® — ® 

88 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

pitiful, peaceful, and easy to be entreated, with the 
several qualifications of true Christian charity, with- 
out which no true Christianity 1 

8. Have you not impaired your own health, by 
surfeiting, drunkenness, uncleanness, or giving way 
to any unruly lusts, passions, and desires, even against 
your reason and judgment ? 

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 

£j)ott sfiait not commit atmitem 

EXAMINATION BY THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 

The Christian virtues in this law commanded, 
are chastity and temperance, the one being not to be 
preserved without the other : and of both these there 
are several degrees; the transgression of each of 
which is here to be examined. And, 

First, concerning chastity ; because the unclean- 
ness of the heart is as vile before God f , as any act of 
that kind before man, examine, 

1. Have you not pleased your fancy with loose 
and wanton imaginations; nor suffered unchaste 
thoughts so long to dwell in your heart, till by the 
corrupt bent of its concupiscence they have grown 
into unruly lusts ] and have you endeavoured to sub- 
due those lusts", and not suffered them to break out, 
either, 1, into any filthy communication, scurrilous 
and obscene speeches*' ? 2, into any sinful solicita- 
tions and temptations of others to commit unclean- 

e 1 Cor. xiii. 1, &c. f Matt. v. 28. g Col. iii. 5. h Eph. 

iv. 29. 

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® — ® 

CHAP. IV.] THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 69 

ness with you, by the wantonness of the eyes, hands, 
tongue ? 

2. Have you not gazed upon any person, till your 
eyes have betrayed your heart secretly to lust, and 
sinfully, to enjoy them ? 

And as to the acts of corporal uncleanness, they 
are of such a loathsome nature, as not fit to be " once 
named " among Christians: your own conscience 
will be your best guide for your examination in such 
particulars : wherein consider and seriously weigh 
the aggravating circumstances of time, place, person : 
the unruliness of your lust, against all the laws of God 
and nature, right reason, and holy religion : consider 
the inconsistency of every such deed of darkness with 
the purity of your profession 1 , and your relation of 
being " a member of Christ, a child of God, and an 
heir of Heaven.'' 

Upon the consideration of this, let this memento 
of that one Father have a deep impression upon your 
soul, " That in every lust of uncleanness, as the un- 
lawful flame thereof goes up into Heaven, so the filthy 
stench thereof goes down into hell." And as another 
Father observes, "I am persuaded, that the greatest 
number of souls tormented in hell, have been less or 
more guilty of this sin." 

Secondly, And because unlawful lusts are nour- 
ished and maintained by intemperance 1 , and that 
chiefly, 

1. In eating and drinking, either more, or more 

k Matt. v. 29, 39. 1 Matt. v. 8. m Eph. v. 3. n 1 Cor. 

vi. 15, &x. ; Eph. v. 5. o Jer. v. 7, 8. 

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© ® 

90 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

often than is conducible to the two ends of feeding ; 
first, to maintain life ; secondly, to preserve health : 
examine, how frequently you have crossed these ends 
of God and nature, either, 1, by too much curiosity 
and daintiness to please an exotic palate, and Jmmour 
a rebellious appetite 13 ; or 2, to maintain and strength- 
en the lusts of the flesh q ; or 3, to please and humour 
others 1 *. And herein by drinking to excess, consider, 
first, the sinful expense of your time 8 ; secondly, of 
your talent and estate ; thirdly, of the health and 
good temper of your body" ; fourthly, of the sound- 
ness and quickness of all the faculties of your mind x ; 
fifthly, of what might and ought to have relieved the 
poor 7 ; sixthly, of contracting the guilt of the excess 
of your companions, at least by your compliance with 
them, if not tempting of them to drink 2 : the which, 
though it be looked upon as a matter of jest and mer- 
riment, yet it will end in sadness and wo\ And 
though perhaps, through the strength of your brain, 
and good constitution of body, you may come off from 
your excess without any visible distemper ; yet that 
frees you not from the sad wo to such denounced 11 . 
And it is woful enough, that this beastly sin of eat- 
ing and drinking to riot and excess, is inconsistent, 
as the former, with your Christian profession, and 
hopes of Heaven c . 

2. And since an account must be given of your 

p Prov. xxiii. 3. q Dent. xxxi. 20 ; xxxii. 15. r Ecclus. ix. 12. 

s Luke xxi. 34. t Ecclus. xxxvii. 29 — 31. u Luke xvi. 19, &c. 

x Prov. xxiii. 29. y Isaiah ]vi. 12. z Wisd. ii. 6, &c. 

a Hab. ii. 15, 16. b Isaiah v. 22 ; Luke vi. 25. c Gal. v. 21. 

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CHAP. IV.] THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 91 

precious time, examine, Whether your intemperance 
in diet hath not often engaged you to spend your time 
either in immoderate sleep or slothfulness d , whereby 
the sinful lusts of the flesh are fomented ; which was 
the sin of Sodom 6 : and it is the only business of the 
slothful man to tempt the devil, who tempts man unto 
all other sins. 

3. Intemperance and excess in apparel, is not only 
a sign of pride and vain-glory, but a symptom and 
allurement to unlawful lusts. Examine if your attire 
be such as is, 1, agreeable to your rank and condi- 
tion ; neither affectedly sordid, nor too curiously fine 
and ccstly f : 2, answerable to the ends of clothing, 
first, to cover your nakedness ; secondly, to preserve, 
by moderate warmth, the health of the body : in either 
of which respects to affect gorgeous apparel, or to be 
proud of the same, is to " glory" in your " shame-;" 
to cover which shame, the use of garments was first 
instituted 11 . Again, Have you not envied others for 
the bravery of their apparel, but rather pitied their 
folly ; remembering that the true ornament of a Chris- 
tian, is " the hidden man of the heart, even the orna- 
ments of a meek and quiet spirit 1 V 9 

4. Recreations are not only useful, but necessary 
to recruit the vigour both of the soul and body, when 
overtoiled with labour ; but are too often the foments 
of unlawful lusts k : and therefore as to these, examine, 
first, that your recreations be in themselves lawful, 

d 1 Thess. v. 6, 7 ; Isaiah lvi. 10, 12. e Ezek. xvi. 49. 

f Luke vii. 25. g Luke xvi. 19 ; Phil. iii. 19. h Gen. iii. 21. 

i 1 Pet. iii. 4. k Eccles. ii. 10, 11 ; iii. 12, 13 ; 2 Sam. xi. 2, 3. 

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92 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

neither dishonourable to God, nor scandalous and in- 
jurious to man' : 2, that they be not unseasonable, to 
the hinderance of any duty to God or man" 1 : 3, that 
you be not immoderate in their use, by making that 
your employment, which should only fit you for em- 
ployments more useful" : 4, that your recreations be 
not what they are vulgarly called, " pastimes;'' it 
being strangely imprudent to spend that precious time 
in toys and vanities, which is lent only to work out 
the eternal salvation of your soul . 

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 

2Tj)ou sjalt not steal. 

EXAMINATION BY THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 

A man may steal, and play the thief, 1, to him- 
self; 2, to others. 

1. As to the first, consider, if you have not ruin- 
ed, decayed, or diminished the estate God hath given 
you, either, 1, by your own careless and imprudent 
management thereof p ; or, 2, by the carelessness and 
profuseness of others, whom you intrusted, but not 
discreetly regarded ; or, 3, by your sloth and negli- 
gence in your calling q ; or, 4, by your prodigal and 
profuse misspending 1 ; or yet, on the contrary, 5, by 
pinching and too much sparing, and denying thyself 
the full and lawful enjoyment of thy riches : the 

1 Eph. v. 11., m Eccles. iii. 1. n Eccles. viii. 5. 

o Eccles. ii. 1—3 ; Phil. ii. 12. p Prov. xxiv. 30, 31. q Prov. 

vi. 6; xiii. 4; xix. 15. a Prov. xviii. 9. b Eccles. vi. 1, 2; Prov. 

xxiv. 34. 

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® © 

CHAP. IV.] THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 93 

which, with several others, are the causes of poverty, 
and kinds of self-robbery. 

2. As to injustice towards others, examine your- 
self, 1, by the public sins of oppression, or grinding 
the face of the poor c : 2, of making hard bargains 
with the necessitous ; of every forcible way either to 
get or to keep what not of right, or more than of 
right belongs to you d : 3, by the private sins, 1, of 
pilfering and filching, which is properly called steal- 
ing ; 2, of cogging and lying, to cozen and deceive ; 
3, of cunning to defraud" and circumvent, in buying 
and selling, lending and borrowing', lending to the 
loss of the borrower, borrowing and not paying 
again ? ; by false weights and measures, by counter- 
feit coin, naughty money, and the like unjust deal- 
ings 11 . 

Have you not robbed God in tithes and offer- 
ings ? nor His Priests in their accustomed dues" ? 
nor the King's majesty in his tribute, customs, hon- 
our, and obedience due to him' ? nor the labourer of 
his hire, or servants of their wages m 1 nor yet de- 
prived any person of what either by law or custom 
belongs unto him" ? All which, with many more 
particulars, are transgressions of that golden rule of 
righteousness and charity, " Whatsoever you would 
that men should do unto you, even so do unto 
themV 

c 1 Kings xxi. 1, &c. d Isaiah iii. 14, 15 : 1 Sam. xii. 3, 4. 

e Luke xix. 13, &c. f 1 Thess. iv. 6 ; Deut. xv. 7—9. g Psalm 

xxxvii. 21. h Hos. xii. 7. i Mai. iii. 8. k Ecclus. vii. 29—31. 

1 Rom. xiii. 6. m Luke x. 7 ; Jer. xxii. 13. n Rom. xiii. 7, 8. 

o Matt. vii. 12. 

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©— ® 

94 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART 1. 

Have you not been uncharitable to the poor and 
indigent, either, by not giving, or not lending to sup- 
ply their wants p ? or by railing, reviling, and using 
opprobrious language towards them ? Want of 
charity, is no other than downright robbery : for the 
poor man's livelihood is the rich man's superfluity, 
and that is the poor man's due q : it being as equal 
justice for the rich to relieve the poor, as it is for the 
poor not to steal from the rich r . 

This sin is also a transgression of the former law : 
for " the bread of the needy is their life ; and he that 
defraudeth him thereof, is a manslayerV 

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 

gjjou s5alt not bear false tettness ZQ?Jnst .i$v nefeSfcour. 

EXAMINATION BY THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 

Not only of false and evil speaking, but " of 
every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give 
an account in the day of judgment'." And there- 
fore to make up your accounts against that great 
day of trial, it will be necessary to commune with 
your " heart, out of the abundance whereof the mouth 
speakethV 

1. Whether you have been guilty of any officious 
lies, by speaking falsely either in the cause of God, 
or of man*. The first being unlawful, the second 

p Deut. xv. 7, &c. ; Psalm xli. 1 ; cxii. 9 ; 2 Cor. ix. 9 ; Prov. xxix. 7 ; 
Isaiah lviii. 7 ; Eccl. v. 11. q Prov. iii. 27. r 2 Cor. viii. 12—14. 

s Ecclus. xxxiv. 21. t Matt. xii. 36, 37. u Matt. xii. 34. x Job 

xiii. 7 ; Col. iii. 9. 

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CHAP. IV.] THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 95 

is highly sinful, though my neighbour may be bene- 
fited thereby. 

2. Have you told no scurrilous lies, vain-glorious 
bragging lies', to please and humour your own and 
your companions' sensual inclinations? 

3. Have you told no false stories to allure others 
to be of your mind and judgment, though you be in 
an error 7 ? And it is very evident that you are both 
deceived yourself, and desire to deceive others, when 
you tell a lie to maintain your opinion : for truth 
stands in need of no lie to support it. 

4. Have you told no infamous lies and scandalous 
stories, to detract and blemish the good name of 
any a ? If such stories should be true, it is unchari- 
table; but when falsities, abominable to report and 
spread them. 

5. Have you not talked of the mote in your broth- 
er's eye to his disgrace, being blind as to the beam in 
your own b ? And have you not judged rashly, cen- 
sured uncharitably of other men's actions, not in the 
better, but worse sense ? 

6. Have you not flattered with your lips c , profess- 
ing more love and respect to any than has been truly 
in your heart towards them ? 

7. Have you neither publicly nor privately testi- 
fied what is false 1 , to the diminution either of the 
reputation or estate of any man ? 

y Psalm xii. "2, 3 ; Ecclus. ix. 24, 25 ; xxv. 2. z Psalm xxiv. 4 ; 

Prov. xii. 17 ; xiii. 5. a Prov. xviii. 8 j xxiv. 28 ; Ecclus. xix. 7, 8 ; 

xxi. 25 ; Eph. iv. 25. b Matt. vii. 3, 4. c Prov. xxvi. 24—26. 

d Exodus xxiii. 1. 

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® — ® 

96 SELF-EXAMINATION BY [PART I. 

Have you used no opprobrious language, as, " thou 
fool/' " knave"/' nor " answered railing for railing' V 

The sin of evil speaking is much aggravated from 
the quality of the persons evil spoken of, As, 1, for 
children to speak evil and reproachfully either of or to 
their parents : 2, for a people to speak evil of their 
Pastors' 1 : 3, for subjects to speak evil of their King 
and his Ministers of State'. Which is the humour of 
false prophets and heretics 1 " ; it being the practice of 
orthodox pastors, " to put their people in mind to be 
subject to principalities and powers, to obey Magis- 
trates, to speak evil of no man 1 ," &c. 

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 

&§ou sfjait not cobct fyv neijrjjfjmir's Souse, frc. 

EXAMINATION BY THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 

Hath no lust inflamed your breast towards the 
wife or maid of another' 11 , or to covet whatsoever of his 
you vainly conceive serviceable to your sinful plea- 
sures ? So lusted David after the wife of Uriah' 1 . 

2. Have you not coveted the house, lands, prefer- 
ments, offices, or whatsoever is enjoyed by another, 
in order to your worldly profit" ? So coveted Ahab 
the vineyard of Naboth p . 

3. Have you not secretly wished the loss or ruin 
of your neighbour's health, peace, credit, liberty, 

e Matt. v. 22. f 1 Pet. iii. 9. g Prov. xx% 20. h Jer. 

xviii. 18. i Exodus xxii. 28. k Jude 8. 1 Tit. iii. 1, 2. 

ra Matt. v. 28 ; 1 Thess. iv. 5. n 2 Sam. xi. 2. o Hab. ii. 9 ; 

Luke xii. 15. p 1 Kings xxi. 1, &c. 

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®- 



® 



CHAP. IV.] THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 



97 



life n , " or any thing that is his," in order either to 
your pleasure or profit ? 

4. Have you not envied the flourishing estate of 
any, either in respect of their wealth, esteem, honour, 
preferment, — and this whether in reference to your- 
self, or to your friend ? 

5. Have you been content with your present state 
and condition in this world, how mean soever ; not 
roving after the exterior consolations of the creature 
abroad, the only way to lose contentment in yourself 
at home ? 

6. Have you been diligent and industrious in the 
duties of your calling', (without all carking solici- 
tude,) both for the support of yourself and yours, and 
for the relief of others ] 

7. Have none of those great " Dianas, whom all 
the world worshippeth," " the lusts of the flesh ," or 
voluptuousness, " the lusts of the eyes," or covet- 
ousness, " the pride of life," or ambition, taken up 
more room in your heart than the love of God, and 
the joys of the world to come ? 

" My soul cleaveth to the dust : quicken me, O 
Lord, according to Thy word'." 

q Job Kxxi. 29, 3D. r Numb. xi. 28, 29. ? Phil. iv. 11 ; 1 Tim. 

vi. 8 . Matt. vi. 19, 20 ; Heb. xiii. 5. t Prov. xiii. 4 ; Epfa. iv. 28 ; 2 

The3s. iii. 8. u 1 John ii. 15, 16. x Psalm cxix. 25. 




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<§) ■ _ (5) 




CHAPTER V. 

THE EXAMINATION OF RELIGIOUS ACTIONS, 

Such is the infelicity of our human condition upon 
earth, that we frequently trespass against the Majesty 
of Heaven, not only by doing what God hath by His 
holy laws forbidden, but also by the irregular per- 
formance of those holy acts of religion which He 
hath commanded. 

And herein a more strict scrutiny is required, a 
more narrow search into all the secret recesses and 
corners, windings and turnings, of the corrupt heart ; 
because the sins of such actions as be outwardly 
holy, do commonly lie more closely hidden from our 
apprehension and view, than those which have no ap- 
pearance of holiness in them. Where, 

1. Examine your intention in every good work, 
what is your chief end and aim therein. For " the 
light of the body is the eye a :" it is the intention, the 
internal eye of the soul, which renders every work, 
either of light or of darkness, sinful or holy. 

Consider then, whether in almsgiving, fasting, 
praying, preaching, or any other religious duty, you 
intend either, 1, the glory of God, rather than your 

a Matt. vi. 22, 23. 

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®— ® 

CHAP. V.] EXAMINATION OF RELIGIOUS ACTIONS. 99 

own glory and esteem ; the praise of God more than 
the praise of men : or, 2, the good of your soul, and 
the interest of Heaven, rather than any worldly ends 
or interests : 3, whether you perform such or such an 
holy action out of a true love to God, and obedience 
to His commands; or rather to please yourself, in 
following your own imaginations, inclinations, and 
humours : 4, whether to satisfy your own conscience, 
rather than to prevent the discourses or censures of 
others : 5, to benefit others, rather than to please 
your own fancy. And lastly, whether you have an 
eye to the " recompense of reward " in the other 
world, without reflection upon any secular advan- 
tage in this life. 

It is too common with men, to mistake their own 
wills for the will of God, their own fancies for Divine 
illumination, the love of themselves for the love of 
God, and the revelations of flesh and blood for the 
dictates of God's Holy Spirit. " The mind of man 
(saith S. Gregory) doth often belie itself, and conceits, 
both in a good work to love what truly it loves not, 
and also in an evil work to hate what thoroughly it 
hates not ; nor can such secret collusions of the deceit- 
ful heart of man be thoroughly sifted and found out, 
until the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed in 
that great day of a general examination and trial." 

2. As the end of every religious action is to be 
examined, whereby the equity or iniquity, sincerity 
or hypocrisy, is discerned ; so the care and caution, 

b Heb. xi. 26. e 1 Coi. iv. 5. 



(g) ® 

100 EXAMINATION OF RELIGIOUS ACTIONS. [PART I. 

fervour and devotion of the heart in its performance, 
is to be considered : for " cursed is he that doeth the 
work of the Lord negligently V When the heathen 
priests offered sacrifices to their false gods, in the 
midst of their idolatrous ceremonies an herald cried 
unto them, Age quod agis ; " Be intent upon what 
you are about." And it is surely unreasonable to 
imagine, that the all-seeing spiritual God, or the God 
of the spirits of all flesh, should be pleased with any 
worship, or act of religion, where the heart is not 
wholly intent thereupon, and devoted thereunto. 

3. After any holy action performed in public, ex- 
amine your own thoughts, whether they reflect not 
upon your own dexterous wit, wisdom, elocution, 
zeal, or holiness, for any of which you may expect to 
be praised and extolled by men. And though your 
heart be so upright, as not to seek and hunt after pop- 
ular applause ; yet if you be affected and delighted 
with the praise of men, it is not without some tinc- 
ture of vain-glory. 

4. Have you not been so secure, and conceited of 
your religious performances, as to lay yourself the 
more open to after-temptations ? for the more fervent 
and frequent you be in holy actions, the more earnest 
and forcible will be your temptations by the enemy of 
all goodness. And these also shall the more easily 
prevail against you, the more secure you think your- 
self of the Divine grace and favour upon such or 
such religious duties conscientiously performed. 

d Jer. xlviii. 10. 

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fy^i 




§M 






^ rf^Z 













CHAPTER VI. 

THE EXAMINATION OF REPENTANCE. 

Having by all these particulars examined your- 
self to find out your sins, it will be necessary to try 
your repentance also ; that the great antidote against 
the poison of sin be not defective nor counterfeit. 
And the first particular herein to be examined, is the 
duty of Examination itself. 

1. Have you daily considered your daily offences, 
duly weighed them', and emptied them out of your 
heart by a full and particular confession of them in 
the presence of God ? 

2. Have you so deeply considered your sins in 
the stain and danger thereof, as to beget in your 
heart true compunction, and " that godly sorrow for 
sin which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be 
repented of?" 

3. Hath not your repentance been too often an 
hypocritical mocking of God, by returning again to 
your sins repented ? ; breaking your promises of amend- 
ment in time of sickness, danger, and the like? 

4. Have you " brought forth fruits meet for repent- 
ance* 1 ? Such are, 1, More frequent and hearty de- 



e Psalm xxvi. 2. f 2 Cor. vii. 10. g John v. 14 ; 2 Pet. 

ii. 20—22. h Matt. iii. 8 ; Hoa. xiv. 1, 2 ; Dan, iv. 27. 



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102 THE EXAMINATION OF REPENTANCE. [PART I. 

votions for your sins of ungodliness. 2. Almsgivings 
for your sins of unrighteousness. 3. Fasting for 
your sins of intemperance 1 . If the tree of repent- 
ance bring not forth such fruits, it is neither lively, 
nor likely to be accepted". 



i Joel ii. 12. 



k Matt. iii. 10 ; vii. 16, 17. 




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CHAPTER VII. 

CONSIDERATIONS WITH DIRECTIONS IN THE CONFESSION OE SIN. 

Having discovered the black stains and pollutions 
of sin your soul hath contracted, in the strict exam- 
ination of your heart and life by the foregoing par- 
ticulars, with what other your own judgment and 
conscience may suggest unto you : your next work 
must be, to empty them all out of your soul, to cast 
them out with an abhorrence ; which is to be done 
by a particular and punctual confession of them all 
unto Almighty God in prayer 1 . 

Without such a sincere and thorough confession 
of sin, the pardon thereof is not promised 1 " ; and 
therefore not likely to be obtained by a bare and 
naked faith in Christ, who very probably will not 
pardon and forgive men their trespasses, but upon 
His terms prescribed, which are not faith alone, but 
repentance also in the confession, and forsaking of 
the sins confessed. 

2. It is not to be imagined, that God therefore 
commands the confession of sins, as if He were igno- 
rant or unmindful of any of our evil doings ; for He 
hath set even " our most secret sins in the light of 



i Numb. v. 6, 7. 
John i. 9. 



k Lev. v. 5 ; xxvi. 40 j Prov. xxviii. 13 ; 1 



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® ® 

104' DIRECTIONS IN [PART I. 

His countenance 1 . " But hereby, first, in all humility 
we acknowledge our undeservings of the least of 
God's mercies : which, secondly, does magnify the 
glory of His grace, and the greatness of His glory" 1 : 
thirdly, we discover our sores to our Physician, and 
our wants of mercy to the Father of mercies, our 
great needs of pardon to the Fountain of goodness' 1 : 
fourthly, we declare our great obligations for pardon 
granted and mercy obtained : fifthly, our hearts are 
excited, and our affections inflamed with the greater 
love of our dear Lord, who died to merit so great a 
mercy : sixthly, the confession of sin doth imprint in 
our hearts the deeper sense, with an abhorrence of 
them : and lastly, being cordially done, it is an evi- 
dent sign that we have abjured and forsaken them. 

3. But the outward confession of the mouth, 
without the inward compunction of the heart, is but 
the shell of repentance without the kernel, a carcass 
without a soul to quicken it. King David, for his 
only sin in the matter of Uriah, " every night washed 
his bed/' and (in the day-time also) " he watered his 
couch with his tears." Mary Magdalen also with her 
penitent tears washed the blessed feet of our Lord : 
and such must be a flood of tears, and not a few 
drops only. St. Peter, for one single sin, " wept bit- 
terly p :" and it is recorded of him, that he never 
heard the cock crow through the course of his life, 

1 Psalm xc. 8. m Josh. vii. 19. 

n Quando homo detegit, Deus tegit : cum homo celat, Deus nudat : cum 
homo agnoscit, Deus ignoscit. Aug. in Psal. 

o 1 Kings xv. 5 ; Psalm vi. 6 ; Luke vii. 38. p Luke xxii. 62. 

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(5) __® 

CHAP. VII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 105 

but by a shower of tears he declared the sorrow of his 
heart for his offence . And some of the Fathers 
have styled repentance " the baptism of tears," as 
not to be exactly performed with dry eyes, in an out- 
ward verbal confession of sin. 

It is confessed, that for sins of daily infirmity, 
small peccadilloes, and frequent failings through ig- 
norance, inadvertency, — the daily confession of sins, 
— saying devoutly, (as S. Augustine ) " Forgive us 
our trespasses as we — ," will be sufficient, through 
the merits of Christ, to obtain pardon of them : but 
such sins as be of an higher and deeper stain, sins of 
wilfulness and presumption, or perverseness and ob- 
stinacy of mind, and even lesser sins, when multi- 
plied and continued, require a deeper sense and sor- 
row. For it is most just and equitable, that true 
and sincere repentance be commensurate to the hein- 
ousness of the crimes committed. 

4. That your confession may flow from "«a brok- 
en heart 5 ," which will render the same " a Sacrifice 
acceptable unto God through Jesus Christ," these 
following considerations and farther directions may 
be useful. 

Remember how deeply you stand obliged to keep 
God's Holy Will and Commandments, and to walk in 
the same all the days of your life." This was prom- 
ised in your name when you were christened : and if 

q Clem. Alex, apud Euseb. 

r Guam magna deliquimus, tarn granditer defleamus— Pcenitentia crimine 
minor non sit. Cypr. Serm. de Laps. 

s Psalm li. 17, t 1 Pet. ii. 5. 

® : ® 



® : ® 

106 DIRECTIONS IN [PART I. 

you have any sense or conscience of the religion you 
profess, you have frequently renewed this your bap- 
tismal vow. And surely, to live in obedience to God's 
commandments, you are deeply obliged, 1, in gener- 
al, in that He is the great Lord of all the world, to 
Whom all things in Heaven and earth do bow and 
obey : 2, more particularly, He is the God of thy 
life, health, strength, wealth, from whom thou hast 
received thy whole self, body, soul, spirit, with all 
thou dost enjoy in this life, or canst hope or desire 
to make thee happy, either in this world, or in the 
world to come. 

5. That to offend a God so great, so good, so 
glorious, so gracious, and frequently to transgress 
His most holy laws, contracts a guilt of such infinite 
weight and demerit, as will undoubtedly, without an 
infinite mercy, sink thy soul to the bottom of hell. 

6. Consider for what foolish, petty, trifling things, 
you have offended God : perhaps for a little filthy 
lucre, or some dirty delight, or to please a rebellious 
appetite, or to satisfy a mischievous, vindictive, mali- 
cious humour, or for the venomous breath of popular 
applause, or the airy thing of a fancied esteem and 
the praise of men, — wherein the service of every such 
unprofitable and brutish lust is preferred before the 
service you owe to the great Majesty of Heaven, 
which consists in obedience to His commandments. 

7. Remember and ponder with yourself, as the 
folly, so the filthiness of your sins, how odious they 
render you both before God and man. 



® — ® 



® ® 

CHAP. VII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 107 

First, as for God ; He is " of purer eyes than to 
behold iniquity 11 ." The sinner with his sins are equal- 
ly hateful unto him*. So that your sins do not only, 
1, rob you of His grace and favour, and 2, render all 
your prayers and all your other acts of religion abomi- 
nation unto Him y ; but also, 3, move Him to raze your 
name out of the Book of Life" ; and 4, to deliver you 
up to have your portion with the devil and his angels 
in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone". 

Secondly, "as for man; even wicked men them- 
selves will abhor and revile you for your sins ; but 
much, very much more hateful do they render you to 
all good men, who truly love God, and hate all that is 
evil'. And questionless, you would be ashamed to 
look any men in the face, whether good or bad men, 
did they but know all that by you which you know by 
yourself, and which God knoweth better than yourself. 

8. Call to mind some of the most aggravating cir- 
cumstances : how such or such a sin was committed 
against the light of your mind, wittingly and knowing- 
ly ; against the checks of your conscience, stubbornly 
and wilfully ; against the admonitions of God's holy 
Word, and the dictates of His Holy Spirit, presumptu- 
ously and contumaciously ; against your covenant with 
God in Baptism, and frequently renewed in your 
prayers, profanely and perjuriously ; against your pro- 
fession as a Christian to make conscience of your 
ways, scandalously and offensively. 

u Hab. i. 13. x Job iv. 8, 9 ; Prov. xiii. 5. y Isaiah i. 

12 — 14. z Exod. xxxii. 33. a Rev. xx. 15 ; Psalm xi. 6. 

b Prov. xxix. 27 ; Psalm xcvii. 10. 

® — — ® 



©_ © 

108 DIRECTIONS IN [PART I. 

And this guilt of scandal is much aggravated, if 
you be a master of a family, a Pastor of people, a 
parent of Children, a Magistrate, or a Minister. — In 
every of which respects your sin is doubled, by the 
encouragement of others to the like offence by your 
example. 

9. In calling your sins to remembrance, it will be 
necessary also to call to mind several other circum- 
stances of many sins; as the time when, the place 
where, the persons with whom, the mariner how such 
or such a sin was committed ; how bold, how impu- 
dent, how shameless, how peremptory, how furious 
and unbridled you were in the prosecution of such 
or such exorbitant desires, such unruly lusts, such 
irrational passions. Whether also it was the first or 
second time only you transgressed in the like kind ; 
or whether you have not rather been more frequently 
guilty, and so, through custom and continuance, your 
heart is hardened, and your repentance for the same 
but hypocritical and feigned, if any at all. 

10. The most of these considerations are of so 
high concernment, that if you will truly turn unto 
the Lord, from all the errors of your ways, your mind 
must dwell upon them, especially upon such as do 
most sting your conscience, and affect your heart, till 
the pride thereof be humbled, and its stubbornness 
subdued, and your soul melt into holy compunction, 
and your eyes run over with the tears of godly sorrow c . 

11. And because your soul cannot be truly hum- 

c 1 Sam. vii. 6 j 2 Cor, vii. 10 j James iv. 9, 10. 
(g) — ® 



<? — <§> 

CHAP. VII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 1C9 

bled within you, except your body be humbled also, 
and God requires both soul and body in every act of 
His service ; it will be requisite therefore that you 
prostrate yourself upon the earth, in the ccnfession of 
your sins. So holy David lay upon the earth, when 
he fasted and prayed for the remission of his sins J . 
When the people of God made confession of their 
sins publicly in the Temple, they did it grovelling 
on the ground, with their faces in the dust : and to 
this day the Jews do the same in their synagogues, 
falling flat upon the earth, when they confess their 
sins, and the sins of their forefathers. 

Wherein that which should yet have a greater in- 
fluence upon too stubborn hearts and stiffened joints, 
is, the example of our dearest Saviour, who, when He 
prayed, groaning under the burden of our sins, " fell 
upon His face, and prayed, and sweat drops of blood, 
and prayed more earnestly, saying the same words' :" 
herein "leaving us an example, that we should follow 
His steps ;" net so much to mind variety of expres- 
sions, and multitude of words in cur prayers and con- 
fessions, as to be thoroughly " humbled," both in body 
and soul, " under the mighty Hand of God ," that He 
may vouchsafe to raise us up out of the mire and clay 
of all our sinful pollutions. 

12. This humiliation of yourselves both in body 
and soul for your sins, cannot be perfectly, sincerely, 
and thcroughly transacted, except ycur prayers be 

d 1 Cor. vi. 2D. e 2 Sara. xii. 16. f Matt. xxvi. 28, 39 ; 

Luke xxii. 44. g 1 Pet. ii. 21. h 1 Pet. v. 6. 

©— — — ~© 



®- ® 

110 DIRECTIONS IN [PART I. 

joined with fasting. That " great day of expiation," 
commanded by God for the putting away of sin, was 
a fasting-day : and for this corporeal mortification, as 
well as for the spiritual compunction, it was called 
" a day wherein to afflict the soul'." 

The many admonitions and examples of fasting, 
both in the Old and New Testament*, and its fre- 
quent conjunction with prayer, may sufficiently con- 
vince us of the necessity of this duty, when we im- 
plore the pardon of our sins ; as also of other acts of 
mortification, for the taming and subduing of the 
flesh 1 , which hath so shamefully rebelled against the 
spirit, as in the thorough confession of sins is ac- 
knowledged. 

13. That you may be both humbled for your sins, 
and yet not despair of mercy and forgiveness, medi- 
tate upon the bitter sorrows and sufferings of our 
blessed Redeemer. 

Behold Him with the eye of faith and devout 
meditation, expanded on the cross, as on a torment- 
ing-rack : see Him naked, and racked, and wounded, 
and bleeding for thy sins : no part of his Body untor- 
mented, no power of His Soul unsacrificed, no drop 
of His Blood unshed, for thine offences. His tender 
Skin and delicate Flesh was torn, and rent, and 
razed, by cruel lashes with forked whips ; His Head 
crowned with thorns, the curse of the earth ; His 
Sinews cracked, His Veins burst, his Joints disparted, 



i Lev. xvi. 29, 30 ; Isaiah Iviii. 3, 5. k Joel ii. 12 ; Matt., xvii. 

21 ; Luke ii. 37. 1 1 Cor. ix. 27 ; Gal, v. 17. 






<•) — ' — __ — —® 



® ® 

CHAP. VII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. Ill 

and all His Bones started aside : whilst in the midst 
of these torments, He offered up His Soul a Sacrifice 
for thy sins. 

And it is this precious Blood thus shed and ap- 
plied to thy heart, if any thing, will mollify its hard- 
ness, and melt thee into tears of compunction for thy 
sins, the cause of thy Saviour's sufferings ; into tears 
of compassion with thy Redeemer in His Passion for 
thee; into tears of devotion, in the dedication of thy 
whole self unto the service of His Majesty, Who 
gave Himself wholly to redeem and save thee. 

And because meditations upon this subject are of 
all others most effectual to excite compunction and 
devotion in the heart, and obtain mercy ; I have 
therefore annexed some short meditations on the 
several mysteries of our redemption, and our Saviour's 
Passion, wherein every one may enlarge himself, as 
his devotion shall suggest. 

14. In the confession of your sins, as in every 
one of your set solemn constant prayers unto God, it 
will be very imprudent, and too presumptuous, to 
trust to your own extempore expressions, and boldly 
say only what at present comes into your mind ; for 
this is to be " as one of them that tempt the Lord"'." 
And by such rash, inconsiderate addresses, you offer 
to the all-wise God " the sacrifice of fools"." 

There is no malefactor that petitions his judge for 
the pardon of his crime, but will pen his petition, and 
study to do it in such words as are pertinent, and 

ra Ecclu8. xviii. 23. n Eccles. v. 1, 2. 

<§r~ <§> 



®- — Q 

112 DIRECTIONS IN [PART I. 

not superfluous, that he offend not by any tedious, 
prolix, or unnecessary expressions. And we cannot 
sure be less considerate and careful, when we peti- 
tion the great Judge of the world for the pardon of our 
sins, which would otherwise sink our souls to eternal 
horror. 

For the right performance therefore of a duty of 
so high concernment, we have many forms of confes- 
sion upon record in the Book of God', and other 
books of practical devotion, both ancient and modern. 
But because such generals reach not punctually to 
the particulars of self-examination proposed, I have 
hereunto added, for the greater ease of the reader, a 
form of confession, whereunto every man may add or 
diminish, as his conscience tells him he is guilty or 
not guilty, also as he finds himself more or less cruil- 
ty : remembering to enlarge upon every general head 
of confession, the enumeration of all such particular 
sins as relate thereunto. 

And because there be few devout, orthodox, good 
Christians, but are affected with what is ancient and 
primitive, more than with the modes of new and 
modern devotion ; I have therefore added one form 
of confession out of the Bibliotheca Patrum, for its 
antiquity, and the general extent thereof. 

15. After the confession of your sins, the most 
effectual prayers you can use for the pardon of them, 
are, next to the Lord's Prayer, the Penitential Psalms; 
the praying whereof with understanding and devo- 

o Din. ix. 4, &c. ; Hcs. xiv, 2, 3 ; Baruch i. 15, &c. ; Luke xv 18, 21. 

© ® 



®- 



-® 



CHAP. VII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 



113 



tion, is truly and indeed to pray by the Holy Spirit 
of God p : for such are undeniably the dictates of 
God's Holy Spirit. I have therefore added the said 
Psalms, with the Lord's Prayer, paraphrased, that in 
the devout use thereof you may " pray by the Spirit, 
and with understanding alsoV 



p Eph. v. 18, 19. 



q 1 Cor. xiv. 15. 




©- 



-® 



®- 



-© 




CHAPTER VIII. 



A FORM OF CONFESSION- OF SIN, FITTED TO THE RULES OF SELF- 
EXAMINATION, WHEREUNTO EVERY ONE MAY ADD OR SUBTRACT, 
AS HE FINDS HIMSELF GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY. 



£ix tjje "Nzmz of t&e JFatijer, antr of tje Son, antr of tje 
%ol» <£j)ost. &men. 

SINS AGAINST THE BAPTISMAL VOW IN GENERAL. — TO 
RENOUNCE THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS WORKS; 

But I am unworthy, O Lord, to take Thy holy 
Name in my mouth, ashamed to lift up mine eyes to 
Heaven ; for I have sinned against Heaven and be- 
fore Thee, in that I have daily broken my vow and 
promise made unto the God of Heaven. I am un- 
worthy to be called Thy son, having obeyed the sug- 
gestions, and done the works of the devil ; and I do 
therefore justly deserve, as a child of the devil, to 
have my portion with him and his angels ; for, with 
those apostate spirits, I have not kept to my first estate 
of regeneration in Baptism, but have transgressed all 
the particulars of that covenant which I made with my 
God therein. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 



<§> 



® 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 115 

THE POMPS AND VANITIES OF THIS WICKED WORLD J 

I have suffered my folish heart to be deceived with 
the pomps and vanities of this transitory life; and 
have been more enamoured with the empty, gaudy, 
flattering felicities of this present world, than with 
those never-fading joys, and unspeakable glories of 
the world to come. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

The pride of life hath ensnared me more to affect 
the praise of men, than the praise of God : and the 
lust of the eyes hath bewitched me, to prefer the love 
and service of mammon, before the love and fear and 
service of my Maker. 

God be merciful to me a sinner. 

AND ALL THE SINFUL LUSTS OF THE FLESH. 

I have more readily obeyed the sinful lusts of the 
flesh, than the godly motions of the Spirit : and car- 
nal concupiscence hath reigned in my heart, and 
prevailed in the actions of my life, against the dictates 
both of right reason and holy religion. 

Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great 
goodness, and according to the multitude of Thy 
mercies, do away mine offences, through Jesus 
Christ. Amen. 

TO BELIEVE ALL THE ARTICLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. 

1 have not been so careful as I ought, rightly and 
fully to understand all the Articles of the Holy Chris- 
tian Faith, whereintol was baptized, and made Chris- 

($_ — — _ — __ — __ ■ ■ ■ — — 6 



® 

116 A FORM OF [PART I. 

tian ; and my faith in those fundamentals of the reli- 
gion I profess, has been weak and wavering, clouded 
by ignorance, depraved by error, and distracted by 
many various opinions and doubts of the truth. 
God be merciful to me a sinner. 

I have not framed the affections of my heart, and 
the actions of my life, according to what each article 
of my Christian faith doth imply, and implicitly com- 
mand : but I have profaned, nay, even " denied" that 
faith by the sinful works of my hands, which I have 
professed with my mouth. 

God be merciful to me a miserable sinner. 

I have too often neglected, and been sometimes 
ashamed to make confession of my faith, when called 
hereunto by the Minister in the congregation : and 
most justly therefore may my blessed Saviour be 
ashamed of me, at the last great Day. But He is 
merciful, and I a miserable sinner. 

God be merciful to my sin, for it is great. 

TO KEEP GOD'S HOLY WILL AND COMMANDMENTS. 

I have not studied fully to know what the Will 
of my God is, and to understand aright those Divine 
Commandments I am obliged to observe : neither 
have I obeyed Thy Will, and kept Thy Command- 
ments, according to the knowledge I have had thereof. 
To Thee, O Lord God, belongetli mercy and for- 
giveness, but to me shame and confusion of face; 
for I have rebelled against Thee, and have not 
walked in those laws which Thou hast appointed 
for us. 

© — ® 



®- — — — — ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 117 

SINS AGAINST THE FIRST TABLE OF THE LAW. 

SINS AGAINST THE FIRST COMMANDMENT. 

I have not so steadfastly and unfeignedly be- 
lieved in Thee my God, as not many times to enter- 
tain wild and roving thoughts of infidelity and 
atheism. 

AGAINST FAITH IN GOD. 

I have lived too much and too long without God 
in the world, spending my time either in doing noth- 
ing, or nothing to the purpose, or doing what I ought 
not ; as if there were no God to call me to an account 
for the expense of my time, and for all my actions in 
time. 

The whole course of my life has been a trade of 
rebellion to my Creator, of ingratitude to my Re- 
deemer, of obstinacy to my Sanctifier, of contradiction 
to a sincere faith in the Triune God, Blessed Father, 
Son, and Holy Ghost ; being little better than one 
of those atheists, who " profess to know God," but 
" in their works deny Him, being abominable, dis- 
obedient, and to every good work reprobate." 

Remember not, Lord, the sins of my youth, nor 
of my riper age ; but according to the multitude 
of Thy mercies, think upon me, O God, for Thy 
goodness. 

TRUST IN GOD. 

I have not fully relied upon the all-wise and good 
providence of God, and cast all my care upon Him ; 

® — ® 



<§>' — ® 

118 A FORM OF [PART I. 

but I have often distracted my mind with carking 
cares and fears for the things of this life, and have 
used unlawful and indirect means to obtain and ad- 
vance my worldly ends and interests. 

I have leaned to my own understanding, trusted 
to my policy and cunning, made flesh my arm, and 
riches my confidence, been puffed up by prosperity, 
cast down by adverse occurrences, for want of a sure 
trust and holy confidence in my God. 

God be merciful to me a miserable sinner. 

HOPE IN GOD. 

I have not made my Creator the chief object of 
my hope and desires ; but being made " in honour," 
after the Image of God, I have made myself " like the 
beasts that perish," roving in my desires and vain 
hopes of consolation in the creature. 

I have foolishly hoped to avoid Thy threatened 
judgments, and yet have not avoided the sins against 
which they are denounced : and I have as vainly 
hoped to attain Thy promised mercies, having not 
obeyed Thy precepts in order thereunto. 
O turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out 
all mine offences. 

FEAR OF GOD. 

I have not stood in awe of Thy dreadful Majesty, 
so as not to sin, and provoke Thee to anger : I have 
more feared to commit sin before men, than in the 
presence of the all-seeing God ; more feared the pen- 
alty of human laws, than the threatenings of the Di- 

® © 



® <§> 

1 
CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 119 

vine ; more feared to lose a little empty credit and 
esteem amongst men, than to incur the displeasure 
of the Almighty : and the little fear I have had of 
God, hath been more servile than filial, more afraid 
of the punishment than of the sin. 

Enter not into judgment with Thy servants, O 
Lord ; for in Thy sight shall no flesh living be 
justified. 

LOVE OF GOD. 

The love of God in my heart is weak and defec- 
tive, and no better than dissimulation and hypocrisy : 
since I have not hated what is evil, nor delighted my- 
self in the Lord, and in the ways of His service : 
since I have not obeyed His laws, nor studied to 
please Him, more than to please myself, and pleasure 
others : since I have not longed after a more full en- 
joyment of God's sacred Majesty in Heaven above, 
but my soul cleaveth to the dust and rubbish of 
worldly vanities. 

Withdraw not Thou Thy mercy from me, O Lord, 
though my heart hath been withdrawn from 
Thee ; but let Thy loving mercy and truth 
always preserve me, 

PRAYERS UNTO GOD. 

I have too often neglected and omitted that indis- 
pensable duty of holy prayers, both public and private, 
in the Church and in the closet; taking any light 
occasion, sometimes to omit, sometimes to curtail my 
devotions, and too often glad of such an occasion. 

<•> — — ® 



® — ® 

120 A FORM OP [PART I. 

I have been too rash with my mouth to utter 
prayers before God, that have been impertinent, irre- 
gular, and unfit to be offered up to the infinite Wisdom 
. and Purity of Heaven. 

In the use of those holy prayers which have been 
weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary, I have been 
both indevout and irreverent, weary of their length, 
displeased at their return; cold, dull, heavy, and 
without advertency in the effusion of them. 

And that which renders the best and most zeal- 
ous prayers ineffectual, I have presumed to pray in 
my sins, with an impure heart and unclean hands ; so 
that wherein I might have most confidence, I find 
nothing but imperfections, weaknesses, and defects. 
God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

PRAISES OF GOD. 

I have not so seriously considered and enter- 
tained so deep a sense of Thy great glories in Thy- 
self, and manifold graces to us sinful mortals, as duly 
to praise Thee, both with heart and voice, both in 
the congregation and in the closet : neither hath the 
light of holy truth so shined in the actions of my life, 
" that others, seeing my good works, may glorify 
Thee" also. 

God be merciful unto my sin , for it is great. 

SINS AGAINST THE SECOND COMMANDMENT. 

O Thou who art an eternal, incomprehensible, 
spiritual, pure, invisible Essence, how have I mis- 
apprehended Thy greatness ! My imaginations and 

® ® 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 121 

conceptions of Thee have been vain and mean, and 
far below the excellency, purity, and perfection of 
Thy Divine nature. 

IRRELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 

And as my thoughts have been rude and unworthy 
of Thee ; so has my worship also been far misbe- 
seeming so great, so holy, so pure a Majesty. 

I have not worshipped Thee either with that 
humble, low prostration of body, or yet with that sin- 
cere, intense devotion of soul, as was meet I should : 
I have " drawn near to Thee with my lips/' when 
often " my heart has been far from Thee." 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner, 

IDOLATRY. 

I have made a goS of the world, by pride and 
covetousness, which is idolatry ; and a god of my 
belly, by luxury and wantonness, wherein, and in 
many more respects, I have " served the creature 
more than the Creator, God over all, blessed for 
ever." 

I have too much idolized my own imaginations, 
both by believing and worshipping God otherwise than 
Himself, in His holy Word, and by the ministry of 
His holy and true Church, hath commanded. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

I have too often sacrilegiously robbed my God 
in tithes and offerings, usurping and withholding 
what hath been consecrated to holy use, diminishing 
and defrauding in the dues of the Church. 

® — — — -® 



® — © 

I 122 A FORM OF [PART I. 

Remember not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the ini- 
quities of our forefathers ; but spare us, good Lord, 
spare Thy people, whom Thou hast redeemed ivith 
Thy most precious blood. 



SINS AGAINST THE THIRD COMMANDMENT. 

That name of Heaven, which is Great, Wonder- 
ful, and Holy, I have too slightly regarded, and too 
often used to promote vanities and maintain lies. 

RASH SWEARING AND CURSING. 

I have not only myself too often profaned, but, 
without regret in myself or reproof of others, have 
heard Thy holy Name blasphemed by rash oaths and 
irreligious execrations; cursing the creatures, my 
neighbours, nay, myself, by that Ever-Blessed Name, 
which is only to be mentioned for adoration and 
blessing. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

PERJURY. 

I have taken many solemn oaths in public, with- 
out a right understanding of the respective contents 
thereof, and the obligation of my conscience there- 
unto : and what I have understood, I have not con- 
scientiously kept and observed ; being guilty of per- 
jury, both in general oaths, and in many particulars 
of each. 

I have seen the reverend Name and Oath of God 
imposed upon the consciences of men out of tyranny, 

® — - — — — — — ® 



® . (5) 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 123 

as a covert of oppression and injustice ; and I also, 
partly for fear, partly for favour and affection to un- 
just designs, have wickedly taken the same oaths and 
engagements; and though " because" of such unlaw- 
ful " oaths the land" sadly " mourneth," yet have 
not I been humbled for the sins and perjuries of this 
sinful nation. 

BREACH OF PROMISE. 

Those holy and just promises I have made, both to 
God and man, I have not justly performed ; but have 
preferred, sometimes my sinful pleasure, sometimes 
my sordid gain and worldly advantage, before the ob- 
ligations of my conscience, both by oath and promise. 

SCANDAL. 

I have not given occasion to others to sanctify 
Thy Name, by my discreet, sober, edifying speech 
and demeanour ; but have rather caused the same to 
be profaned, by my idle, light, foolish, sinful words 
and works. 

For Thy Name's sake, blessed Jesus, Thy sioeet 
and saving Name of Jesus, be merciful unto 
my sin, for it is great. 

AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD. 

I have too lightly and negligently both read and 
heard the sacred Word of God; through carelessness 
not understanding, and through precipitancy and self- 
interest misunderstanding and wresting the contents 

® _ . — « ® 



® ® 

124 A FORM OF [PART I. 

thereof: and what I have rightly understood, I have 
not conscientiously put in practice. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

AND THE SACRAMENTS. 

I have too much slighted, and too often profaned, 
those holy Sacraments Christ hath ordained in His 
Church, as the blessed means of grace and salvation. 

OF BAPTISM. 

I have not seriously enough weighed, and careful- 
ly observed, the covenant I made with my God in 
Baptism : nor yet informed those committed to my 
charge, of their obligation to perform the same. 

I have not been so reverent and devout at the ad- 
ministration of that holy Sacrament of Baptism, as 
becometh so great a mystery of godliness, and the ho- 
ly offices of its celebration. 

God be merciful unto me, and heal my soul, for 
[ have sinned against Thee. 



When I have been invited to that holy Commu- 
nion of the Body and Blood of Christ, I have often 
slighted such invitations ; choosing rather to continue 
in my ignorance and neglect of so great a duty, than 
to take pains to be informed, and to practise the reli- 
gious acts and offices of due preparation thereunto. 

I have pretended scruples of conscience about 
harmless ceremonies to neglect the service of God 
itself; and remembered the danger of unworthy receiv- 

® ® 



®- — ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 125 

ing, to keep me back ; but forgot the duty that is in- 
cumbent on me, to eat of that Bread, and drink of 
that Cup. 

Many excuses and pretences I have fancied to my- 
self, and made to others, to detain me from that Sa- 
crament; when the true cause has been, want of de- 
votion in my heart, and of a full purpose to leave my 
sins, and to turn unto the Lord sincerely from all the 
errors of my ways. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

I am much afraid that I have received that bless- 
ed Sacrament unworthily, by "not discerning the 
Lord's Body," being ignorant of the nature, ends and 
1 benefits thereof, and of what is required of them that 
come thereunto; and by not observing strictly, in my 
preparation and participation, what I have known to 
be my duty. 

As to preparation; I have not so duly and truly 
examined my heart and life, confessed and bewailed 
my sins, humbly implored pardon, fully resolved 
amendment, carefully renewed my vow and covenant 
in Baptism, — as becometh a devout communicant. 

Thine infinite mercy, O God, in giving us Thine 
only Son, to be both the price of our redemption, and 
the food of our souls, hath not sunk so deep into my 
heart, as to be inflamed with Divine love and affec- 
tion, with a spiritual joy in the Lord, and a thorough 
devoting of myself to Thy service, and to praise Thee 
therefore both with heart and voice, and through all 
the actions of my whole life. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

® — (•> 



®— (•> 

126 A FORM OF [PART I. 

I have not performed my promises, nor put into 
practice my resolutions I undertook upon my ap- 
proach to Thine Altar ; but have again returned to 
my old sins, as the dog to his vomit. 

I have sinned, wo unto me that I have sinned, O 
Father, against Heaven, and before Thee, and 
am not worthy to be called Thy son. 

THE PROFANATION OF WHAT IS HOLY. 

Thy holy Temple have I profaned by my often 
irreverent approaches thereunto, and my careless, 
slovenly, and indevout demeanour therein ; as if there 
were no difference betwixt the House of God, and the 
houses of men, betwixt a Church and a barn. 

I have too much undervalued the Ministers of Thy 
holy Word and Sacraments, slighted and contemned 
holy persons, profaned many holy actions and holy 
things, which have Thy mark enstamped on them, 
and have been dedicated to the service of Thy great 
Name. 

And though thus, and more ways than thus, in 
more respects than I can possibly conceive or remem- 
ber, I have profaned Thy holy Name ; yet is Thy 
Name called upon me, and I do daily call upon Thy 
Name : I do therefore humbly beg, 

For Thy Name's sake, O Lord, be merciful unto 
my sin, for it is great. 



^T 



©•-- — — — ~~-~~~~ ~— - — — — r <•) 



® <§> 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 127 

SINS AGAINST THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT. 

Many of those days and hours, times and seasons, 
dedicated to Thy Divine Worship, public and private, 
have I profaned and unhallowed ; making no differ- 
ence, either by my words or works, betwixt days 
separate to the sacred service of God, and such as 
are left in common for the service of ourselves. 

I have too often absented myself from Thy solemn 
public worship, without sufficient cause, and have too 
carelessly, irreverently, and indevoutly, demeaned 
myself therein. 

I have misspent much of the time assigned for 
holy exercises, in following my own private business, 
satisfying my sensual lusts, pursuing the pleasures 
and interests of this present world ; spending upon 
such days in luxury, riot, and excess, what might better 
have been laid out in alms and charitable uses. 

The whole course of my life, which Thou grant- 
tedst me to be spent in Thy service here, that I might 
advance my hopes of Heaven hereafter, I have fool- 
ishly thrown away upon my lusts and vanities ; con- 
tinually grieving Thy good Spirit, quenching those 
sacred flames He hath enkindled in my breast, never 
ceasing from the works of sin, but daily labouring to 
destroy my hopes to keep a perpetual Sabbath in 
Heaven. 

O God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my 
eyes to heaven ; for mine iniquities are increased 
over mine head, and my trespass is gone up unto 
the Heavens. 

® ; © 



® (•) 

128 A FORM OF [PART I. 

SINS AGAINST THE SECOND TABLE OF THE 
LAW. 

SINS AGAINST THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT. 

most just and dear God, I humbly confess my- 
self, not only to have broken the bonds of that love, 
fear, and service, I owe more immediately unto Thee, 
but I have also transgressed my duty in all my rela- 
tions unto others. 

AGAINST PARENTS. 

1 have been disobedient to my parents, stubborn 
and disrespective in my carriage towards them : I have 
sometimes secretly despised them in my heart, and 
openly reviled them ; I have slighted their admoni- 
tions, thinking myself too good to own them, too wise 
to obey their commands : I have not, to the best of 
my power, comforted and relieved them in their wants 
and weaknesses, sorrows and sicknesses : and I have 
too often wished for their death, that I might enjoy 
their estate, and follow the sway of my own corrupt 
humour and inclinations. 

God be merciful to me a sinner. 

AGAINST CHILDREN. 

I have not been careful, either myself to instruct 
my children, or to see they were by others instructed 
in the principles of holy and true religion : I have 
been more careful for their temporal than spiritual 
estate, for the health of their bodies than for the sal- 
vation of their souls ; not wisely admonishing, dis- 
cs - ■- — <§> 



®- ■ ® 

CHAP. IV.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 129 

creetly correcting, and seasonably reproving them, and 
by my good example, teaching them the ways of truth 
and holiness. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

AGAINST THE KING. 

I have been too disobedient to my prince, too 
censorious and malapert in traducing his person and 
conversation, his government, and the governors under 
his majesty : I have murmured to pay him toll and 
tribute, and refused to obey many of his laws and 
lawful commands. 

I had too deep a hand in the rebellion against the 
late king, of blessed memory, by my many personal 
sins provoking the wrath of God, by entertaining false 
opinions, by believing and spreading lies and infamous 
stories. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

AGAINST THE CHURCH; 

I have not made conscience to obey the laws and 
orders of Thy Church, whether universal or particular, 
not acknowledging, or not submitting to the authority 
of either, and am justly to be therefore ranked amongst 
publicans and sinners. 

AND THE MINISTERS THEREOF. 

My ghostly Fathers, and Pastors, in the several 
orders of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon, I have disbe- 
lieved, disrespected, disobeyed ; despised them in their 
persons, in their callings, in their admonitions for my 

9 

® ® 



® — -® 

130 A FORM OF [PART I. 

soul's health : and I have also detained, diminished, 
defrauded, and grudgingly paid, the dues of the 
Church. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

Amongst the ministers of the gospel, I have had 
respect of persons, being better pleased with a stran- 
ger than with my own lawful Pastor ; better pleased 
with the factious and schismatical, than with the or- 
thodox and regular Clergy ; better pleased with preach- 
ers that tickle the itching ear, than with such as feed 
the soul with sound and wholesome doctrine. 

I have hated him that reproveth in the gate : I 
have hardened my heart, and refused, when admon- 
ished, to return from the errors of my ways. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

AGAINST ALL MEN IN THEIR RELATIONS AND CONDITIONS. 

Towards all my superiors I have been too haughty 
and disrespectful, both in my carriage towards them, 
and speeches of them : I have not honoured the aged, 
and admonished the younger and less experienced : 
towards all men my deportment has been too churlish 
and ungentle ; not so meek and lowly , not so cour- 
teous and affable, as becomes the spirit of a true 
Christian. 

I have been proud and vain-glorious, stubborn and 
disobedient ; slighting, contemning, deriding others, 
giving rash judgment ; but have been impatient my- 
self of scorn, or of a just reproof; not enduring to be 
slighted, and yet extremely deserving it. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

®- ® 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 131 

SINS OF MASTERS OF FAMILIES ; 

I have not ordered aright the members of my fam- 
ily, or my servant, or servants; been too remiss in my 
care for their instruction, and for their daily attend- 
ance upon the public worship of God : preferring their 
attendance upon me, and their service in my worldly 
concerns, before the great concernment and interest 
of their own souls' salvation in the service of Thy 
sacred Majesty. 

I have detained or curtailed their wages, murmur- 
ing to give them their due ; provoked their spirits, 
exacted too hard duty from them, and too supercili- 
ously lorded it over them. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

AND OF SERVANTS. 

I have oftentimes disobeyed, and murmured to 
obey my master's commands : I have not been so low r - 
ly and submissive in my demeanour towards him, so 
just and honest in the management of his affairs, as 
becomes a good and faithful servant. 

Have mercy upon me, O God y after Thy great 
goodness ; and according to the multitude of Thy 
mercies do away mine offences, through Jesus 
Christ. 



SINS AGAINST THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. 

I have been heinously and frequently guilty of 
immoderate anger, been peevish and disquieted at tri- 
fles, at slight miscarriages of others, and inconsider- 
able accidents about me. 



©- 



® — © 

132 A FORM OF [PART I. 

IMMODERATE ANGER IN THE HEART I IN WORD AND DEED. 

My anger hath often swelled into wrath and fury, 
broken out into bitter railing and cursing, opprobrious 
speeches, to such and such, mindful of wrongs, for- 
getful of benefits : going to law, with such and such, 
more out of malice than matter ; more out of pride, 
or covetousness, or for revenge, than for righteous- 
ness' sake. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

envy. 

I have envied the persons and flourishing estates 
of others, of such or such, their parts or endow- 
ments, of such for their wealth and preferments, of 
such for their credit and esteem : I have desired and 
pursued mine own worldly ends and interests, though 
in the loss, ruin, and death of others. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

the inferior degrees of murder, as to the bodies of 
others; 
I have many ways, and in many respects, impaired 
the health of others, the bodily health of such and 
such, by fighting, maiming, wounding, and by not 
relieving the wants and necessities of the poor and 
indigent ; by not assisting and helping, to the best of 
my power, the sick and the sore, the wounded and 
distressed, and such as are in captivity and bondage. 

AS TO THE SOULS OF OTHERS J 

I have also too much contributed to the ruin of 
other men's souls, both by silence, consenting, and 

© — ® 



©_ _® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 133 

not reproving ; by not instructing, admonishing, and 
exhorting others, as opportunity has been offered, and 
my duty required ; and by my lewd example and 
wanton behaviour, encouraging, nay tempting and al- 
luring others to run with me to the same excess of 
drunkenness, uncleanness, uncharitable censures: — 
and I have been pleased and delighted to hear of the 
disgrace, loss, and death of others. 

AS TO BOTH. 

I have been extremely wanting in all those several 
kinds of Christian charity, both corporal and spirit- 
ual, whereby the good estate of my neighbours is pre- 
served, both in respect of their souls and bodies : I 
have not been so kind, so loving, so courteous, so pit- 
iful, so tender-hearted, so compassionate, so gentle 
and easy to be entreated, as becomes a true disciple 
of Christ my Saviour. 

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness , O my God: even 
from all these, and from all the several kinds 
and degrees of blood-guiltiness, good Lord, de- 
liver me; and my tongue shall sing of Thy 
righteousness. 

TOWARDS OURSELVES. 

But how should I rightly love my neighbour as 
myself, since I have not loved myself aright, but have 
gone the way to destroy myself, by my intemperance 
in meats and drinks, and by my incontinence and 
wantonness, by my impatience and over-much solici- 
tude of mind for temporal things; and, in a word, for 

© — — ® 



® © 

134 A FORM OF [PART I. 

want of prudence in the suppression of my unruly 
passions and desires? 

J am gone astray like a sheep that is lost : O seek 
Thy servant ; for 1 do not forget Thy Com- 
mandments. 



SINS AGAINST THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT. 

I have not possessed my vessel in holiness and 
honour, as the Temple of God should be. 

WANTON IMAGINATIONS. — UNCLEAN LUSTS. — FILTHY 
TALK. — ACTIONS. 

I have entertained many loose and wanton imag- 
inations, the which I have not forthwith cast out of 
my heart, but have suffered them to dwell there, till 
they have grown into unruly, unlawful lusts : I have 
not endeavoured to subdue those lusts, but have suf- 
fered them to break out into filthy communication, 
obscene talk, sinful solicitations of others, by the wan- 
tonness of my eyes, hands, unseemly gestures, rude 
actions ; more particularly, such and such, with such 
and such persons, at such and such a time, in such 
and such a place, after such a shameless manner and 
behaviour. 

I am unclean, unclean, unclean : O wash me in 
the fountain of thy inexhaustible mercy through 
faith in the Blood of Christ ; icash me thorough- 
ly from my wickedness,' and cleanse me from my 
sin. 

®_ — _ © 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 135 

NEGLECT OF FASTING. 

I have not mortified my body, for the subduing of 
carnal lusts, by fasting and abstinence ; making no 
conscience of several days and times devoted there- 
unto. 

INTEMPERANCE IN MEATS AND DRINKS. 

I have fomented my lusts, by giving too much 
way and sway to my rebellious appetite, even to 
drunkenness and gluttony — at such a time, with such 
company — wherein I have been too forward myself to 
drink to excess, and to tempt others to the like ex- 
cess. 

Even the whole course of my life has been a trade 
of intemperance in meats and drinks : and though I 
have reaped the bitter fruits of such improvidence, 
by having my heart thereby estranged from Thee my 
God, by the slight and negligent performance of holy 
duties, by wasting my time, my talent, giving ill ex- 
ample, impairing the health both of my soul and body ; 
yet have I still continued to be daily guilty of such in- 
temperance and folly. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

IN APPAREL. 

I have been too loose, costly, garish, and flaunt- 
ing in my attire, to entice and allure the eyes of lovers, 
to gain an empty respect from others; making gar- 
ments, given to cover my nakedness, and the shame 
of my nature, to be the instruments of pride and wan- 
tonness. 

God be merciful unto me a miserable sinner. 

® — ■ i . — ® 



® — 

136 A FORM OF [PART I. 

IN RECREATIONS. 

I have been both immoderate and unseasonable 
in the use of recreations, misspending too much of 
that precious time in toys and vanities, which was 
lent me only to work out the eternal salvation of my 
soul. 

My sins have t aksn such hold upon me, that I am 
not able to look up ; yea, they are more in num- 
ber than the hairs of my head, and my heart 
doth fail me when I think thereupon. O let it 
be Thy pleasure to deliver me ; make haste to 
help me, O Lord. 



SINS AGAINST THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. 
IMPROVIDENCE. — PRODIGALITY. 

I have been an improvident and unjust steward 
of Thy temporal blessings, prodigally and sinfully 
wasting my estate, by drinking, gaming, feasting, sloth 
and negligence in the duties of my calling. 

INJUSTICE. 

I have been guilty of defrauding and overreach- 
ing such and such in buying and selling, in purloining, 
in oppressing, in borrowing and not paying again, in 
lending upon usury and for unjust gain. By many 
undue means I have intervened to my own use, and 
detained what of right belonged to others ; neither have 
I made restitution, or given satisfaction for such and 
such wrongs and unjust dealings, 

<•> — ~ ® 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 137 



UNCHARITABLENESS. 

I have not been so charitable to the poor, so piti- 
ful to the afflicted, so compassionate to the sick, nor 
so open-handed to relieve the wanting and necessitous, 
as my ability and opportunity, and their sad condition 
have required. 

When such and such persons, at such or such a 
time, have called to me for relief, I have turned a deaf 
ear, and given them harsh language instead of an 
alms. 

I have been unlike Thee, my God, in all respects; 
for I have been uncharitable and unjust. 

O deal not with me after my sins, neither r etc arc! 
me after mine iniquities : but according to the 
multitude of Thy mercies think upon me, O God, 
for Thy goodness, through Christ our Saviour. 



SINS AGAINST THE NINTH COMMANDMENT. 
DENYING OF THE TRUTH. 

I have not been so studious and diligent to under- 
stand and speak the truth at all times as I might have 
been : neither have I had that Christian courage al- 
ways to speak what I have known to be the truth, or 
to run any hazard to defend the same, as becomes a 
| true soldier of Jesus Christ. 

LIES. 

I have not set a watch over my mouth, and guard- 
ed the door of my lips ; but I have suffered my unru- 

® ® 



® : ® 

138 A FORM OF [PART I. 

ly licentious tongue to be the instrument of manifold 
lies of all kinds and conditions; officious lies, brag- 
ging, boasting lies, scurrilous lies, flattering lies ; pro- 
fessing more love to such and such, than has been in 
my heart towards them. 

CENSURES. 

I have offended by detracting, defaming, censur- 
ing, and condemning others, being myself far more 
worthy to be condemned by others. I have talked of 
the mote in my brother's eye, to his disgrace ; but have 
been blind, and would not see mine own sins, and in- 
finite misdemeanors. 

Enter not into judgment with Thy servant, O 
Lord, as I have entered into judgment with 
others : O deal not with me after my sins, nei- 
ther reward me after mine iniquities ; but 
according to the multitude of Thy mercies, think 
upon me, O God, for Thy goodness. 



SINS AGAINST THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. 

I have sinfully coveted to enjoy the wife, or the 
maid, or the servant, of such and such ; coveted such 
a mans' s lands and possessions, such a man's offices, 
preferments, credit, honour, such a man's convenien- 
ces and seeming contentments in the world : malign- 
ing, envying other men's wealth, fair house, great es- 
tate ; but too, too much dissatisfied with my own es- 
tate and condition, though far beyond my desert. 
God be merciful to me a miserable sinner. 

$ fa 



® — _© 

CHAP. Tin.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 139 

COVETOUSNESS. 

Having both food and raiment, and all things ne- 
cessary for my support in this life, I have not been 
therewith content, but have been over-disquieted and 
solicitous in my mind for more ; more wealth, more 
land, more and higher preferments, though founded 
and settled not in the loss only, but even in the death 
of others. 

EARTHLY-MINDEDNESS. 

I have not accounted " godliness" the chiefest 
" gain, " nor " delighted myself in the Lord," and in 
the ways of His service, nor " set my affections on 
things above : " but have roved in my wild desires after 
the exterior enjoyments of the creature, which, being 
empty and unsatisfying, have deprived me of true 
peace and contentment of mind. 

Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before 
Thee, and am not worthy to be called Thy 
son : but reject me not from amongst the number of 
Thy servants, though I be both an unprofitable 
and disobedient one. 

THE SINS OF REPENTANCE FOR SIN. 

And to my sins, I have been guilty of many sinful 
defects in my repentance for my sins. 

I have but too slightly, not strictly and thoroughly, 
examined my heart and my life, to find out my sins, 
which lurk in the dark, to hurry my soul to blackness 
of darkness for ever : those sins which I have known 
and found myself guilty of, I have not bewailed with 

® — ® 



© — — 1 ® 

140 A FORM OF [PART I. 

that godly sorrow, as the greatness and grievousness 
thereof require. 

With my lips have I often confessed my sins, when 
my heart has not been truly humbled within me, under 
the deep sense of their pollution, stain, and danger, 
so as to loathe and abhor my sins and myself too in dust 
and ashes. 

I have too often made a mock of the Almighty in 
the confession of my sins, by returning back to the 
sins confessed, as the dog to his vomit. 

Thus have I sinned, and I have done wickedly, 
and I have committed iniquity, and I have rebelled 
against Thee, by departing from all Thy most holy 
laws and judgments. 

To Thee, O Lord God, belong cth mercy and for- 
giveness, but to me shame and confusion efface ; 
for I have rebelled against Thee: God be mer- 
ciful, Sfc. 

THE SIMS OF RELIGIOUS ACTIONS. 

I have been guilty of many secular and sensual 
ends in the performance of holy actions ; minding 
more my own advantage, and the pleasing my own 
fancy, than the advancement of Thy service ; loving 
more the praise of men, than the praise of God. 

I have entertained many vain, wandering, worldly, 
and sometimes wicked imaginations in the times of 
Thy service ; have been dull, inconsiderate, and in- 
devout, in my prayers ; very much defective in fast- 
ing, and too vain-glorious in the little good I have 
done to others. 

<•>— — ® 



® — ® 

CHAP. VIII.] CONFESSION OF SIN. 141 

I have secretly applauded my own fancy, wit, wis- 
dom, elocution, and dextrous management of religious 
discourses : even the best and most holy of all my re- 
ligious performances are not without their manifold 
sinful defects and deformities. 

Who can tell how oft he offendeth 1 O cleanse Thou 
me from these, and from all my secret faults, 

SECRET SINS. 

My secret sins are innumerable ; sins secret through 
ignorance, through forgetfulness, through negligence, 
and a negligent self-examination, through wilful mis- 
persuasion ; sins which a watchful and diligent spirit 
might have prevented, but I would not ; sins secret 
to the world, committed before Thee only, and under 
the witness of mine own conscience. I am confound- 
ed with the multitude of them, and the horror of their 
remembrance : the remembrance of them is grievous 
unto me, the burden of them is intolerable. Have 
mercy upon me, have mercy upon me, most merciful 
Father, for Thy Son my Lord Jesus Christ's sake ; 
forgive me all that is past ; and grant that ever here- 
after I may serve Thee in newness of life, to the 
honour and glory of Thy Name, and the eternal sal- 
vation of my soul, through Jesus Christ, &c. 

Grant, merciful Lord, I beseech Thee, not to me 
only, but to all Thy faithful people, pardon and 
peace ; that they may be cleansed from all their 
sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind, through 
Jesus Christ, Sfc. 
Our Father which art in heaven, &,c. 

® . _— _ — __ — . -A 



® — : ® 




CHAPTER IX. 

AN ANCIENT FOBM OF CONFESSION, EXTANT BIBLIOTH. PATRUM, 
TOM. VIII. P. 409. 

I confess unto Thee, O Lord, the Father of Heaven 
and earth, and to Thee, O sweet and benign Jesu, 
with the holy and blessed Spirit, before all Thy holy 
Angels and Saints, before Thy Altar, and Thy Priest 
standing there; 

I was conceived and born in sin : and since my 
Baptism, wherein I was washed from sin original, I 
have been conversant in actual sins all the days of my 
life, until this very hour. 

I confess I have sinned in pride and vain-glory, in 
the vanity of my apparel, in the lifting up of mine 
eyes, and the swelling of my heart ; and pride hath 
stained all my actions. 

I have been in envy, hatred, malice, and immod- 
erate anger ; in ignorance and negligence ; in sloth- 
fulness and sullenness ; in the greedy covetousness 
both of worldly wealth, and of the praise of men. 

I have sinned in the greediness of the belly, even 
to gluttony and drunkenness, and sodomitical luxury ; 
in wanton kisses, unchaste embraces ; in fornication 
and adultery ; and every kind of shameful uncleanness. 

I have sinned in theft and cozenage, in rapine and 
sacrilege, in lying and idle tales, in swearing and 

<•> ® 



<•) © 

CHAP. IX.] ANCIENT FORM OF CONFESSING SIN. 143 

forswearing ; in the loss, sickness, disgrace, and death 
of others, which I have too often desired, and where- 
with I have been too well pleased. 

I have sinned in the defects of faith, hope, and 
charity ; in the unworthy participation of the Body 
and Blood of Christ ; in the neglect of hospitality and 
almsgiving, frequently denying to relieve, and often 
exasperating the poor by opprobrious language. I 
have transgressed the precepts of Thy Gospel, enjoin- 
ing me to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the 
sick, &lc. 

I have been unjust in detaining the dues of Thy 
Church, and in the dispensation of Ecclesiastical 
goods ; in the contracts of usury, bargaining and sale, 
overreaching, lying, withholding what has been more 
or less righteous and just. 

I have not attended upon thy public and solemn 
worship upon Sundays and Holy-days devoted there- 
unto : I have not behaved myself upon such days 
soberly, righteously, and godly : I have approached 
and come into Thy House without that reverence and 
godly fear which becometh that sacred place ; and 
there I have demeaned myself unseemly, sitting, 
standing, leaning, lolling, and staring about, when the 
respective parts of Thy sacred Service required more 
humble and devout gestures and behaviour. I have 
entertained vain, idle, wandering thoughts, and inter- 
mingled unprofitable, wanton, worldly talk, in the 
time of Thy solemn worship. 

I have unhallowed many holy things, many holy 



i 



-® 



<§> — <•> 

144 AN ANCIENT FORM [PART I. 

actions, by using the same as common and unclean, 
and with unclean hands, and an impure conscience. 

I have not joined with a right understanding and 
devotion in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 
public prayers, and other the sacred acts of religious 
worship : too often speaking with my lips cursorily 
and customarily, whilst my heart hath been roving by 
evil imaginations and fales suspicions ; judging rashly 
what is sacred and holy, when transcending my shal- 
low capacity. 

I have sinned by perverse reasonings against the 
truth, because either above my understanding, or not 
agreeable with my will : by consenting, and not re- 
proving the sinful : by not instructing the ignorant, 
not reducing the erroneous, not admonishing, not ex- 
horting such as have gone astray, to entertain more 
sound and sober counsels. 

I have not reverenced my superiors ; I have both 
defamed and disobeyed my governors ecclesiastical 
and civil : neither have I repayed to my friends and 
benefactors such grateful acknowledgments and due 
obsequiousness as becometh. 

J have entertained in my heart many loose and 
unchaste thoughts, and filthy lusts; and have looked 
upon the carnal copulation and intermixture of beasts 
with an unclean delectation of mind. 

I have been guilty of much superfluous and op- 
probrious language, of lying and slandering, of false- 
hoods and flatteries, of railing and reviling, of scur- 
rilous and vain jangling, of profane and irreligious 

(§ —— -. ® 



® .® 

CHAP. IX.] OF CONFESSING SIN. 145 

speaking, and customary swearing; of taking unlaw- 
ful oaths, of much filthy communication, and of all 
the evils of an untamed tongue, the instrument of a 
corrupt heart. 

I have even renounced the covenant of my God. 
by not renouncing the devil and all his works : I have 
too often yielded to his suggestions, to disobey the 
will of God, and to transgress His commandments, in 
the breach of my duty both towards God and man. 

And thus I have sinned both in my thoughts and 
desires, in my words and actions, by seeing, hearing, 
I tasting, touching, smelling ; even all my senses have 
. been as so many windows to let in sin to my soul, and 
J death by sin. 

And not only thus, but in all kinds of vice where- 
| unto human frailty is liable, or in whatever any dis- 
| solute and debauched person doth or can offend, have 
I I offended the great Lord of Heaven and earth. And 
I I acknowledge myself, above all the men in the 
world, to be the greatest of sinners. 

Have mercy upon me, Almighty and most merci- 
ful Father: for Thy Son, my Lord Jesus Christ His 
sake, pardon and deliver me from all my offences, 
confirm and strengthen me in all goodness, and 
bring me to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, 
vSoc. 

Psalm vi. "O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine 
anger," &,c. 

Psalm xxxii. " Blessed is he whose unrighteous- 
ness is forgiven," &c. 

10 





® ® 

146 AN ANCIENT FORM [PART I. 

Psalm xxxviii. " Put me not to rebuke, O 
Lord," &lc. 

Psalm li. " Have mercy upon me, O God," &,c. 

Psalm cii. " Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let 
my crying," &c. 

Psalm cxxx. " Out of the deeps have I called 
unto," &/C 

Psalm cxliii. " Hear my prayer, O Lord, and 
consider," &c. 

Our Father, Which art in Heaven, Hallowed be 
Thy Name, &c. 

Then follow these ejaculations, by way of response. 

Turn Thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul. 
Resp. O save me, for Thy mercy's sake. 
How long shall mine enemy triumph over me ? 
Resp. Lighten mine eyes, O Lord, that I sleep 
not in death. 

From all my secret sins, 

Resp. And from the guilt of other men's faults, 
Good Lord, deliver me. 

Remember not, Lord, the ignorances and sins of 
my youth. 

Resp. For Thy Name's sake, be merciful unto 
! my sin, for it is great. 

I said, I will confess my sin unto the Lord : 
Resp. And mine unrighteousness have I not hid. 
Hear my prayer, O Lord : 
Resp. And hold not Thy peace at my tears, 
O be merciful unto me, and heal my soul : 

ST" ® 



® — I 

CHAP. IX.] OF CONFESSING SIN. 147 

Resp. For I have sinned against Thee. 
Let it be Thy pleasure, O Lord, to deliver me. 
Rcsp. Make haste to help me, O my God. 
Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it. 
Rcsp. O deliver me, for Thy mercy's sake. 
Hear me, O God, in the multitude of Thy mer- 
cies. 

Resp. Even in the truth of Thy salvation. 

I. Prayer. 

That it may please Thee, O Lord, by the in- 
fluences of Thy divine grace upon my stony heart, to 
dissolve the same into a flood of tears ; and that I 
may perform all the sacred acts and offices of true 
repentance, unto the remission of all my sins, through 
the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, &c. 

II. 

O Lord God, Who desirest not the death of a sin- 
ner, but rather that he should turn from his sin, and 
be saved ; mercifully forgive us our trespasses, re- 
ceive and comfort us, who are grieved and wearied 
with the burden of our sins. Turn Thine anger 
from us, who meekly acknowledge our vileness, and 
truly repent us of our faults : and so make haste to 
help us in this world, that we may ever live with 
Thee in the world to come, through Jesus Christ, &/C 

III. 

O merciful Lord, to Whom chiefly it appertaineth 
to forgive sins, and by Whom alone the souls of true 
penitents are absolved from all their offences ; wash 

(5) — ® 



<5) ® 

148 ANCIENT FORM OF CONFESSING SIN. [PART I. 

me, O wash my unclean soul in the fountain of 
Thine inexhaustible mercy, through faith in the 
Blood of my dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ, &,c. 

IV. 

Look down from Heaven, O Lord, with the eye of 
pity and compassion upon Thy humble servant, con- 
fessing his wickedness, and being sorry for his sins, 
imploring withal Thy pardon, and trusting alone in 
Thy mercies, through the merits and mediation of 
Jesus Christ, &c, 

V. 

Be propitious, O Lord, we humbly beseech Thee, 
be propitious to the prayers and supplications of Thy 
humble servants ; and grant that the remission of our 
sins being obtained, we may evermore rejoice in Thy 
heavenly benediction, through Jesus Christ, &c. 




®— — _ __ . @ 



® 



® 



vgm&sszm 




IR1 1 





CHAPTER X. 



TK2 LORD'S PRAYER PARAPHRASED. 



PR^EFAT. AD ORAT. DOMIS. EX LIT. MOZARAB. 

Ad te pervenire cupimus, Dornine, per Christum, qui apud 
te factus est Advocatus noster ; et Orationem quam ipso 
Domino instruente didicimus, ad te introire permittas ; 
proclamantes e terris, 

J9?ttcr noster, (Slut es fix coelts, &c. 



THE PREFACE. 

" Our Father." 1. As we have a being with all 
things, by creation and providence; 2. As we are 
reasonable creatures, with all Angels, by representa- 
tion and likeness ; 3. As we are Christians, by adop- 
tion and grace. 

" Which art in Heaven." By Thy majesty and 
great glory; in earth, by Thy mercy and good prov- 
idence ; and in all things both in Heaven and earth, 
by Thy essential Presence. 

Thou, O Lord, art more ready to hear, than we 
are to pray, and art wont to give more than we de- 
sire or deserve, as being "our Father;" and though 
daily provoked by our sins, yet still " our Father : " 
and Thou art able to do exceeding abundantly, above 
all that we can ask or think, as being; " in Heaven." 



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150 the lord's prayer [part I. 

And to Heaven vouchsafe to raise up our immortal 
souls : let them not cleave to the dust of worldly van- 
ities, since we have " a Father in Heaven." 

FIRST PETITION. 

" Hallowed be Thy Name." O that all the nations 
whom Thou hast made would come and worship 
Thee, and glorify Thy Name, Which is Great, Won- 
derful, and Holy : but more especially, may Thy 
ever-blessed Name be magnified by me and by all 
people who have Thy Name called upon us ; in all 
our thoughts and desires, words and deeds, manifest- 
ing that reverence and godly fear, that Divine love 
and filial obedience we owe unto Thee, " Our Father 
Which art in Heaven." 

SECOND PETITION. 

" Thy Kingdom come." Mayest Thou rule and 
reign in all the affections of our hearts, and over all 
the actions of our lives ; swaying Thy Sceptre of 
righteousness by Thy holy Word and Spirit, to the 
destruction of the kingdom of sin and Satan : and 
may we all live in obedience of Thy most holy Laws, 
and continue such loyal and faithful subjects of Thy 
" Kingdom of Grace" in this life, that we may be- 
come Saints in Thy " Kingdom of Glory" in the life 
to come. 

THIRD PETITION. 

" Thy Will be done in earth as it is in Heaven." 
May all we, whose immortal souls do dwell in earthly 
tabernacles, as readily, zealously, constantly obey 

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CHAP. X.] PARAPHRASED. 151 

" Thy Will," and as cheerfully submit to " Thy 
good pleasure," as do Thy blessed Angels and Saints 
in their blissful mansions of Heaven above. 

FOURTH PETITION. 

"Give us this day our daily bread." Even all 
things necessary both for souls and bodies ; both the 
Bread of Heaven, and the bread of the earth. And 
grant, that what we do enjoy upon earth, may be 
rightly ours, not to any other belonging : and neither 
acquired by injustice, nor uncharitably detained by us: 
and our daily bread we beg, according to our daily 
necessities to be administered to us, who daily wait 
upon Thee, O Lord, who givest unto all their meat 
in due season. 

FIFTH PETITION. 

And that our daily abuse of Thy gifts may not rob 
us of them, " Forgive us our trespasses :" even all 
our transgressions of Thy most holy Laws; pardon, 
good Lord, Whose nature and property it is always 
to have mercy and to forgive. But this we presume 
not to ask but upon Thine own terms. 

" As we forgive those that trespass against us." 
The trespasses of others, and our sufferings from 
them, are but few and trifling, in respect of our sins 
and trespasses against Thee ; for they be many and 
heinous : but as sin hath abounded in us, so doth 
grace and mercy abound also with Thee ; but we are 
men of hard, corrupt, uncircumcised hearts. Have 
mercy upon us, O Lord, and forgive us both our sins 



<g) : © 

152 the lord's prayer [part I. 

against Thee, and our uncharitableness to our neigh- 
bours : soften our hard hearts, to be kindly-affectioned 
one towards another ; forbearing and forgiving one 
another, as we hope and humbly beg to be forgiven 
by Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

SIXTH PETITION. 

" Lead us not into temptation.'' Suffer us not 
any more to fall into sins and trespasses against 
Thee. When we are led away with our lusts, and 
tempted, O leave us not then to ourselves, who are 
weak and frail, and too prone to all that is evil : but 
assist and enable us, by Thy divine grace, to over- 
come all the assaults of our ghostly enemies, and to 
continue Thy faithful servants and soldiers to our 
lives' ends. 

SEVENTH PETITION. 

" Deliver us from evil." From the evil of sin, by 
Thy grace ; and from the evil of punishment, by Thy 
mercy : and from the author of all evils, the devil : 
from the temporal evils and miseries of this life, and 
from the evils of a sad eternity in the life to come ; 
from Thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation, 
Good Lord deliver us. 

Liberati a malo, confirmati semper in bono, tibi 
servire mereamur, Deo ac Domino nostro. Pone, 
Domine, finem peccatis nostris, da gaudium tribulatis, 
praebe redemptionem captivis, sanitatem infirmis, re- 
quiemque defunctis ; concede pacem et securitatem 
in omnibus diebus nostris ; frange audaciam omnium 

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CHAP. X.] PARAPHRASED. 153 

inimicorum nostrorum, et exaudi, Deus, orationes 
omnium servorum Tuorum fidelium Christianorumin 
hac die et in omni tempore, per Dominum nostrum 
Jesum r , &,c. 

CONCLUSION. 

" For thine is the Kingdom." Thou rulest and 
reignest over all : and Thy dominion is absolute and 
independent, the power whereof cannot be broken, 
nor its glory eclipsed, like the frail and fading king- 
doms of this world : But Thine is " the Power and the 
Glory, for ever and ever." Thy dominion is an ever- 
lasting dominion, such as shall not pass away ; and 
Thy Kingdom such as cannot be destroyed, but shall 
stand fast in power, and eminent in glory, for ever. 

O give us hearts vieldincr a wilful obedience to 

O JO 

the Laws of Thy kingdom, full of reverence and 
awful fear of Thy Power, studious to advance Thy 
Glory upon earth ; that we may in the end arrive at 
Thy Kingdom in Heaven, where Thou livest and 
reignest, Blessed Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one 
God, world without end. Amen. 

r Lit. 3Iozarab. 




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CHAPTER XL 



THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSA EMS PARAPHRASED. 



The Psalms of David being by all Christians, of 
what persuasion soever, acknowledged to be the im- 
mediate dictates of God's Holy Spirit; it must ne- 
cessarily be acknowledged also, that he who under- 
standing^ and devoutly prays in the very words of the 
Psalms, prays by the Holy and true Spirit of God. 
The truth whereof, which by many blind zealots is 
too much slighted and neglected, we have both con- 
firmed, and the practice commanded, Eph. v. 18, 19, 
" Be ye filled with the Spirit : speaking to yourselves" 
(or " among yourselves," which is done by answering 
each other) " in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual 
songs ;" i. e. such as are the dictates of the Holy 
Spirit; compared with Col. iii. 16. 

Thus prayed our Lord upon the Cross in the very 
words of the Psalmist . And so hath ever prayed the 
Church of Christ, in all the ages thereof. "Psalms, 
and hymns, and spiritual songs, are, and ever were, 



t Psalm xxii. 1 ; xxxi. 5. 
u Psalm us totius EcclesifE vox. 
Horn, vi., Ambr. de Virgil, i. iii. 



Aug. Prolog, in Ps., Chrys. de Pcen. 



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CHAP. XI.] PENITENTIAL PSALMS PARAPHRASED. 155 

the constant, regular, standing parts of God's Wor- 
ship, both under the Law, and under the Gospel : and 
he must needs be a desperate fanatic, who will not 
acknowledge the words of God's own Spirit to be 
more wise, pithy, pertinent, and effectually prevailing 
with God in our prayers, than any words of man's 
devising, how seeming zealous and taking soever. It 
is a strange, but not a true spirit of holy prayer, that 
those persons pretend unto, who slight the devout 
use of the Psalms, which are the treasury of all sound 
devotion, and trust to their own extempore cr studied 
expressions in prayer, preferring the dictates of their 
own spirit, before these of the Spirit cf God Himself. 
The Penitential Psalms are so called, because 
commended by the Church of Christ, and by the con- 
stant practice of orthodox, devout Christians, to the 
religious use of all true penitents in their prayers ; to 
be used upon all days of humiliation and fasting, and 
in the time of sickness or any distress. So prayed 
St. Augustine upon his death-bed : he wept and be- 
wailed his sins, in the devout use of the Penitential 
Psalms. And these are also the most effectual pray- 
ers we can use in the practice of repentance, by way 
of preparation to the Holy Communion. 

PSALM VI. 

"O Lord," the Judge of all men, " rebuke me 
not in Thine indignation," which I have deservedly 
incurred : " neither chasten me" for mine offences 
" in Thy hot displeasure," flaming to consume me. 

2. " Have mercy upon me, O Lord," Whose na- 
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156 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

ture and property is ever to have mercy and to for- 
give, " for I am weak ;" this corruptible body pressing 
down the soul, both through original corruption, and 
manifold actual transgressions : " O Lord, heal me, 55 
pour the wine and oil of Thy grace and mercy into 
the wounds of my sinful soul, " for my bones are 
vexed ;" that interior strength which supports my 
soul, is troubled and sore shaken by many falls and 
failings. 

3. " My soul also," being conscious of her guilt 
and distempered condition, " is sore troubled ;" being 
terrified at the apprehension of Thy strict justice, and 
her own deserts : " but Thou, O Lord," Who desirest 
not the death of a sinner, " how long" wilt Thou delay 
to hear, help, and heal my soul ? 

4. " Return, O Lord," from the rigour of justice, 
to the sweetness of mercy; " deliver my soul" from 
the bands and fetters of her sins, and from under the 
power of Satan, " and save me" from Thy wrath, and 
from everlasting damnation ; good Lord, deliver me, 
" for Thy mercies' sake," wherein is my only trust, 
through the merits of my Saviour. 

5. " For in death," whether spiritual in sin, or 
corporal for sin, " there is no remembrance of Thee," 
either by confessing our sins unto Thee, or imploring 
mercy from Thee : " and who will give Thee thanks 
in the pit?" None, sure, do praise Thy Name in 
the grave of death, which is the dwelling-place of 
silence and oblivion ; much less in the pit of hell, 
where Thy great Name is not praised, but blasphemed. 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 157 

6. u I am weary of my groanings :" having long 
laboured under the heavy burden of my sins : " every 
night wash I my bed v ," both in the night, when I 
should sleep, and in the day, when I go to rest, " I 
water my couch with my tears/' Even all the places 
of my ease, rest, and refreshment, are bedewed with 
tears of compunction and godly sorrow. 

7. " Mine eye," wherein my exterior beauty chief- 
ly consists, " is consumed with grief," the inward 
sorrow of my soul thereby emptying itself, " and worn 
away, because of all mine enemies ;" because my 
ghostly enemies daily prevail against me, by my con- 
sent to their suggestions. But being resolved to avoid 
all occasions of such temptations, therefore, 

8. " Depart from me, all ye w T orkers of iniquity ;" 
for the future, I must leave the society of all such as 
do not only work wickedness, but also tempt others 
to sin with them : " for the Lord hath heard the voice 
of my weeping." He hath put my tears into his 
bottle, and it concerns me therefore to separate my- 
self from the company and counsel of the ungodly. 
O how audible and effectual is the voice of my weep- 
ing ! for therefore, 

9. " The Lord hath heard my petition:" gra- 
ciously accepted and answered my desires, in the par- 
don of mine offences : and " the Lord will receive my 
prayers," when I thus humble myself under His 
mighty hand. And then, 

y "Or, 'in the night,' and obscurity of my sin??, I * wash > with the 
tears of compunction the ' bed ' of my conscience," Tho. Aquin. 

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153 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

10. " All my enemies shall be confounded," they 
shall be frustrated in their designs and enterprises 
against my soul, "and sore vexed :" when all their con- 
trivances fail them, " they shall be turned back," from 
their further assaults of my innocence, "and put to 
shame suddenly." Even before their intentions be 
put in execution, their plots shall be blasted, when 
the Lord vouchsafes to " hear the voice of my weep- 
ing." 

And, O that I could so weep and bewail my sins, 
that the Lord may hear in Heaven, and be merciful 
unto me, and heal my soul, to glorify His Name. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to 
the holy Ghost : 

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall 
be. Amen. 

PSALM XXXII. 

" Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiv- 
en," as to the guilt contracted, " and whose sin is cover- 
ed, " that it appear not to his punishment; or, whose 
original pollution is washed away in the lava of Bap- 
tism, and his actual transgressions covered with the 
robes of Christ's merits. 

2. " Blessed is the man," he is blessed in hope, 
though not in fruition, " to whom the Lord imputeth 
not his iniquity," to his eternal separation from the 
Presence of God. But of such an one it is required 
that he be sincere in his repentance, " and in whose 
spirit there is no guile," no hypocrisy or deceit in his 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 159 

repentance ; but he turneth unto the Lord with all his 
heart, and from all the errors of his ways. 

3. " Whilst I kept silence," covering, and not 
confessing my sins; or, whilst I silently considered 
with myself the multitude and heinousness of my 
transgressions, " my bones consumed away," the 
strength and support of my soul failed me "through 
my daily complaining." Not as I ought to complain 
in the confession of my sins, for therein I sinfully 
kept silence ; but through the secret murmurs of my 
troubled conscience, and fear of the just judgments of 
God. 

4. " Day and night Thy hand is heavy upon me ;" 
my daily practice and continuance in my sins, makes 
every day more heavy the hand of Divine Justice : 
for the fear whereof (i my moisture is like the drought 
in summer." The sap of grace and the vigour of the 
Spirit languisheth, and the verdure of my devotion is 
dried up, even as the fruits of the earth are parched 
by the sun's hot beams in the height of summer. And 
now being sensible of this my sad condition, 

5. " I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee ;" both 
my sins of omission, " and mine iniquity," my 
sins of commission, " have I not hid," but laid them 
all open before Thee, emptying my conscience from 
the venom of them by confession. And this I firm- 
ly resolved with myself to do ; 

6. " I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord ;" 
accusing myself that Thou, O Lord, mayest excuse 
me ; condemning myself, that Thou mayest acquit me ; 

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160 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

discovering my nakedness and shame, that Thou may- 
est cover me with the robes of Thy mercy, through 
the merits of my Saviour : " and so Thou forgavest 
the wickedness of my sin," being confessed, bewailed, 
and forsaken. 

7. " For this," Thy great mercy in pardoning of- 
fences sincerely repented, " shall every one that is 
godly pray unto Thee," that he may be cleansed from 
his sins ; for there is no man so godly that sinneth 
not ; but therefore godly, because Thou art gracious, 
both in forgiving the wickedness of his sins, and 
strengthening him with grace to abjure them. And 
he that is thus godly, will not neglect those blessed 
opportunities of prayer, " in the time when Thou 
mayest be found," ready and prepense to hear and 
forgive, and that is the time of this present life ; 
wherein there are " great water-floods" of temptations 
and troubles, " but they shall not come nigh him." 
The prayer of the godly is a strong bulwark. And 
thus he prayeth in the time of trouble ; 

8 " Thou art my hiding-place ;" under the sacred 
wings of Thy merciful protection is my refuge ; in 
the midst of the greatest tribulation, " Thou shalt 
preserve me from trouble," like Noah and his family 
in the Ark, when the rest of the world perished by 
water : " Thou shalt compass me about with songs 
of deliverance," being on all sides delivered and pre- 
served from the floods of manifold troubles, I will 
sing praises unto Thy great Name for the same. 



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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 161 

THE ANSWER OF GOD TO A TRUE PENTTENT. 

9. " I will inform thee and teach thee," outward- 
ly by My Word, and inwardly by My Spirit, " the 
way" of true wisdom, which is both to know God, 
and know thyself, " wherein thou shalt go;" what 
good is to be done, and what evil to be left undone : 
" and I will guide thee with mine eye," have a con- 
stant eye upon thee, for thy guidance in the way of 
life. And he that is thus guided himself, will say 
unto others, 

10. " Be ye not like to the horse," that is, un- 
tamed, headstrong, and stubborn, "or to the mule," 
that is, foolish and slothful, " which have no under- 
standing," or reason, to bridle their sensual appe- 
tites : " whose mouths must be held with bit and 
bridle, lest they fall upon thee." Be not so brutish, 
as not to keep the ways of God's laws, except He 
whip and spur thee with affliction and trouble : this 
is like a horse that will not obey his rider, without 
a bridle in his jaws, and a spur in his sides. 

11. "Great plagues remain for the ungodly;" 
often in this life, to drive them to repentance, but 
assuredly in the life to come, if they repent not : 
" but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord," and will 
be doing good, his holy confidence in God being not 
only notionary in the brain and fancy, but practical 
in the heart and life, " mercy embraceth him on every 
side." The Lord's mercy shall surround him for his 
protection, and support him for his perseverance in 

I the way to Heaven, where he shall both see and en- 
I 11 
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162 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

joy Divine mercy on every side: 1, above him, in 
the beautiful vision of God's Majesty ; 2, below him, 
in the torments he hath escaped ; 3, and mercy round 
about him, in the blissful society of Angels and 
Saints : great cause of joy surely. 

12. " Be glad, O ye righteous, " through the tes- 
timony of a good conscience, " and rejoice in the 
Lord :" not in our own merits, for by grace we are 
saved : " and be joyful" not ye that prosper in the 
world, but all ye that are true of heart/' sincere and 
upright before God, whose wills and affections are 
conformable to the Divine will, both in desire and 
deed : such may rejoice heartily in this life, in the 
assured hope of celestial happiness in the life to 
come : to ascribe, 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to 
the Holy Ghost. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 

PSALM XXXVIII. 

" Put me not to rebuke, O Lord, in Thine 
anger ;" to take revenge of the ingratitude and per- 
jury of mine offences against Thee: "neither chasten 
me in Thy heavy displeasure." Let not my correc- 
tion for my faults be in rigour of justice, but tempered 
with mercy, as a father chasteneth his son whom he 
loveth. 

2. " For Thine arrows stick fast in me :" the 
sharp sentences of Thy holy Word against sinners, 
pierce my heart with fear and terror : " and Thy hand 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 163 

presseth me sore." Thy vindicative power, which 
Thou exercisest against offenders, weigheth down and 
oppresseth my spirits. 

3. " There is no health in my flesh," thence is 
the spring and foment of my sinful corruption, and 
therefore justly punished, " because of Thine anger :" 
the sad effects whereof afflict me: " neither is there 
any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin." The 
sinful sickness of my soul renders me so disquieted 
and disturbed, as be those who are afflicted with 
bodily pain and sickness, and find no ease of their 
anguish. 

4. " For mine iniquities," by my frequent reitera- 
tion of them, " are gene over my head :" their num- 
ber is greater than the hairs of my head, and so pre- 
valent withal, that they have brought under both 
head and heart ; both my judgment and affections are 
weakened and disordered thereby : " and are as a 
heavy burden" which sinks the body to the earth, so 
is the weight of sin upon the soul, " too heavy for 
me to bear" the weight of punishment due there- 
unto. 

5. " My wounds stink," my sins, through long 
continuance in them, fester in my soul, " and are 
corrupt through my foolishness," in consenting and 
delighting myself to wallow, with the sow, in the mire 
of sinful pollutions. 

6. " I am brought into so great trouble and mis- 
ery." Both the powers and parts of my soul and 
body are so distempered and disturbed, " that I go 



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164 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

mourning all the day long." The sense of my sins, 
and just fears of punishment, make the day of my 
present life sad and heavy. 

7. " For my loins are filled with a sore disease :" 
there, there my carnal lusts engendered, the fulfilling 
whereof hath made my soul like a loathsome leper, or 
some such ulcerous creature ; " and there is no sound- 
ness in my flesh," which always lusteth against the 
spirit, to the great distemper of both. 

8. " I am feeble," in body, through carnal incen- 
tives, " and sore broken," in spirit, by their prevalen- 
cy over me ; " I have roared, for the very disquietness 
of my heart." My conscience gainsaying such ex- 
orbitances, but not prevailing, makes me now cry 
aloud, through its disquietude unto the Searcher of 
all hearts. 

9. " Lord, Thou knowest all my desire :" my ear- 
nest longings after Thee for ease and help : " and my 
groaning" under the heavy weight of my sins and of 
Thy displeasure " is not hid from Thee;" although I 
should be silent, and not express the same by prayers 
and tears. 

10. " My heart panteth," through the disquietude 
of its unruly passions, the peace of my conscience 
being also lost, " and my strength hath failed me :" 
the wonted vigour of my devotion is decayed, whence 
fear and solicitude do issue : " and the light of mine 
eyes is gone from me." My understanding, which is 
the eye of the soul, is darkened through the sway of 
its passions ; and the Sun of Righteousness is gone 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 163 

down upon my soul, because of the deeds of darkness 
I have committed. 

11. " My lovers and my neighbours," who are 
obliged by the ties of friendship and continued conver- 
sation, " did stand looking upon my trouble :" not 
moving to perform their wonted friendly offices to me : 
" and my kinsmen," they of mine own flesh and blood, 
either out of scorn or abhorrence of my troubled estate, 
" stood afar off," as if I were a stranger to them : and 
not only my friends, but mine enemies. 

12. " They that seek after my soul," the devil and 
his angels, and wicked men their instruments, " laid 
snares for me :" by their cunning temptations of me 
unto sin, to destroy me : " and they that went about 
to do me evil," endeavoured by all means to do me all 
the mischief that was in their power, have to this end 
" talked of wickedness," framed lies, raised false re- 
ports, consulted and contrived pernicious designs 
against me, " and imagined deceit all the day long," 
or continually framed all their imaginations to deceive 
and ruin me. 

13. " As for me, I was like a deaf man that 
heareth not," with such patience I sustained all this, 
as if I had heard nothing of their consultations, nor 
known any thing of their designs against me ; " and 
as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth," 
either to rail against mine enemies, or to murmur at 
the sadness of my condition. 

14. " I became even as a man that heareth not," 
taking no notice of what was said or done against me, 

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166 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

" and in whose mouth are no reproofs," I opened not 
my mouth to reprove, much less no revile my adver- 
saries. So my dear Saviour has taught me, by His 
example, Who suffered Himself with all sweetness of 
patience : " He was led as a sheep to the slaughter : 
and as a lamb dumb before the shearers, so opened He 
not His mouth." 

15. " For in Thee, O Lord, have I put my trust ;" 
as knowing that vain is the help of man ; but Thou, 
O Lord, art both able and willing to succour all such 
as unjustly suffer, and depend upon Thee for right : 
" Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God." Hear 
my prayers, and answer my desires ; plead my cause 
against mine adversaries, and disappoint me not of 
my hope, which hangeth upon Thee, the God of my 
salvation. 

16. " I have required," requested of Thee in my 
prayers, " that mine enemies should not triumph over 
me :" insult in my overthrow : " for when my foot 
slipped,"* at my slips and failings, either into sin or 
other danger, " they rejoiced greatly against me." 
My falls, which are grief to the godly, were great 
cause of joy to my ghostly adversaries : how much 
more greatly then would they rejoice and triumph in 
my utter overthrow ! 

17. " And I truly am set in the plague :" being 
born to suffering, because born in sin ; being prone 
to fall, if not by Thee supported : " and my heaviness 
is ever in my sight," being conscious of my sins, the 
cause of all my sorrows. But that the plague thereof 
may be healed, 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 167 

18. " I will confess my wickedness ;" and this not 
only outwardly with my lips, but inwardly from my 
heart ; " I will be sorry for my sins." And great 
reason, sure, for they are the cause of all my sorrows 
and sufferings both in soul and body. 

19. " But mine enemies," the devil and his angels, 
" live and are mighty :" they are lively, active, strong, 
and vigorous, whilst I am weak and feeble : " and 
they that hate me without a cause are many in num- 
ber :" many there be that hate me, without any cause 
given them. And not only they whom I have not 
wronged or provoked, but even, 

20. " They that reward evil for good are against 
me :" and such undoubtedly who repay evil for good, 
do it by the instinct of Satan, and out of mere hatred 
to goodness itself: and therefore they hate me 
" because I follow the thing that good is :" hating 
my person, because of the integrity of my actions. 
But, , 

21. " Forsake me not," in time of temptation and 
trouble, leave me not destitute of Thy assistance, 
" O Lord my God ;" in Whom are all my hopes of sal- 
vation : " be not Thou far from me," by taking away 
Thy grace from me : but if in Thy great wisdom it 
be withdrawn a little, for my trial, yet not too far, nor 
too long, but rather, 

22. " Haste Thee to help me," against all the as- 
saults of the devil, the world, and the flesh, whom to 
vanquish and overcome is from Thee, and by Thy as- 
sisting presence, "O Lord God of my salvation," the 

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168 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PAPvT I. 

Author, the Promiser, the Donor of eternal salvation. 
Let others trust in their riches, power, &,c. ; yet shall 
my soul for ever trust in Thee for saving happiness, 
in Whom and from Whom alone is peace and joy, 
and to Whom be all glory. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 

PSALM LI. 

" Have mercy upon me, O God," the Father of 
mercies, " after Thy great goodness." Were not 
Thy goodness infinitely great, I could not hope for 
Thy mercy : " and after the multitude of Thy mer- 
cies, do away mine offences :" mine offences are 
multitudinous and heinous, and require a multitude 
of mercies to cover them. 

2. " Wash me thoroughly," who am throughout 
foul and polluted in all the parts and powers both of 
soul and body " from my wickedness ;" it is mine 
own indeed, from mine own wicked will proceeding ; 
" and cleanse me from my sin," both from my wick- 
edness against God, and from my sin against man : 
from my wickedness past, and from sin to come, that 
both the guilt of sin, and my corrupt inclination 
thereunto, may be cleansed. 

3. " For I acknowledge my faults," I desire nei- 
ther to hide nor excuse them, but with a penitent 
heart I own and confess them, that Thou mayest for- 
get and forgive them : " and my sin is ever before 
me," my conscience constantly accusing and con- 

® ■ — ~— 



® _ — ® 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 169 

demning my great folly and ingratitude in sinning 
against Thee. And it is, 

4. " Against Thee only have I sinned," Who 
alone art both my Judge and the Witness of my sins. 
Thou alone searchest the hearts, and knowest the 
greatness and grievousness of my sins : and Thou 
alone hast supreme power both to punish and to par- 
don ; " and done this evil in Thy sight." What I 
was ashamed to do before men, I have without either 
fear or shame done before Thee, to Whose all-seeing 
eye nothing is hid. " Have mercy upon me, O God." 

5. " That thou mayest be justified in Thy say- 
ing ;" be found just in all Thy words, and in this 
particular 2 : " Thou hast destroyed Thyself, O Isra- 
el ; but in Me is Thy help:" — "and clear when 
Thou judgest :" free from the least injustice in par- 
doning the penitent, and condemning the obstinate. 

6. " Behold, I was shapen in wickedness," contract- 
ing, together with my very being in nature, original 
corruption from my parents' loins : " and in sin hath 
my mother conceived me :" hence my flesh becomes 
so frail and rebellious against the spirit. 

7. " But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward 
parts :" the internal purity of the heart and affections 
are Thy delight : " and shalt make me to understand 
wisdom secretly." By the secret influences of Thy 
Holy Spirit, make me to understand and practise that 
wisdom which is from above. 

8. " Thou shalt purge me with hyssop :" my soul 

z Hos. xiii. 9. 

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170 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

and corrupt conscience hath need of a purge, the ingre- 
dients whereof must be the bitter sorrows and suffer- 
ings of my dearest Saviour, intermixed- with the salt 
tears of bitter sorrow of soul for my sins ; " Thou shalt 
wash me," in the inexhaustible fountain of Thy mer- 
cy, through faith in the Blood of Christ, and I shall 
be whiter than snow," through the spiritual candour 
of my soul being justified. 

9. " Thou shalt make me hear" — or be inwardly 
sensible — " of joy and gladness :" in the remission of 
my sins, and hopes of eternal happiness, than the 
which no greater joy can touch the immortal soul : 
" that the bones which Thou hast broken may re- 
joice," in the light of Thy countenance shining into 
my broken heart, and there diffusing the glimmering 
rays of a blessed hope. 

10. " Turn Thy face away" not from me through 
indignation, but " from my sins;" by the remission 
of them ; " and put out all my misdeeds," out of Thy 
book of remembrance, that they appear not in judg- 
ment against me, to my condemnation at the last 
great Day. 

11. " Make me a clean heart, O God," cleansed 
from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit, " and re- 
new a right spirit," rectified from all the crooked 
paths of vanity and iniquity, raised up to Heaven- 
wards, and cleaving steadfastly to Thee, my God : 
and let this be " within me." Purify my will and 
affections, whence all my extravagancies issued. 

12. " Cast me not away from Thy presence :" 

® ; ® 



© 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 171 

in Whose presence is both the light and health of the 
soul : and though I am unworthy to appear in Thy 
presence, but deserve rather to be as a cast-away, 
given up to a reprobate sense ; yet " take not Thy 
Holy Spirit from me." Though I have often quench- 
ed His sacred fires, by my extravagant lusts, yet leave 
me not ; forsake me not utterly, but, 

13. " Give me the comfort of Thy help again ;" 
or, Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, which 
by my sins I have forfeited and lost : " and establish 
me with Thy free Spirit." Free me, by Thy holy 
spirit of liberty, from the law of sin and of death. 

14. " Then shall I teach" both by word and ex- 
ample "Thy ways" of mercy and truth " unto the 
wicked :" who follow the ways of their own hearts : 
" and sinners shall be converted unto Thee," by the 
example of my sincere conversion and seasonable ad- 
monitions. 

15. <c Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God," 
I from all the kinds and degrees of blood-guiltiness ; 

such are, immoderate anger, hatred, malice, envy, 
and from all mortal or soul-killing sins ; " Thou that 
art the God of my health :" the health both of my 
body and soul, both temporal and eternal salvation, 
is from Thee : and therefore <c my tongue shall sing 
J of Thy righteousness," extolling Thy truth in mak- 
ing good Thy promised mercies to the truly penitent. 

16. " O Lord, open my lips," which my sins 
have closed up, " and my mouth shall show forth 
Thy praise," which becometh not the lips of sinners : 

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172 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

but Thou art a God forgiving offences, and even out 
of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast perfected 
praise. 

17. " For Thou, O Lord, desirest no sacrifice," 
of slain beasts, for the expiation of sin, " else would 
I give it Thee/' were it Thy pleasure to accept the 
same : but " Thou delightest not in burnt-offerings." 
It is not the outward, carnal offerings, though com- 
manded by Thee, that Thou respectest as the princi- 
pal means to pacify Thy displeasure, but the inward 
devotion and compunction of the person offering. 

18. " The sacrifices of God," those He chiefly 
respecteth and accepteth, " are a troubled spirit," 
wounded and groaning under the sad sense of his 
sins : " a broken and contrite heart," the fallow- 
ground whereof is broken up by a strict self-examina- 
tion, contrite by compunction, weeded by confession, 
watered with the tears of godly sorrow; such a sacri- 
fice, "O God, Thou wilt not despise," but accept 
through His merits, Who with a torn Body and bro- 
ken Heart, offered up Himself a Sacrifice for the sins 
of the world. 

19. " O be favourable and gracious unto Sion :" 
Let Thy blessing plentifully descend upon our holy 
Mother, the Church, both universal, and this particu- 
lar Church whereof I am a member : " build Thou 
the walls of Jerusalem." Repair the breaches both 
in true doctrine and discipline, which through licen- 
tiousness in opinion and conversation, are greatly de- 
cayed, that the souls of the righteous may enjoy the 
vision of peace. 

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<•> ® 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 173 

20. " Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacri- 
fice of righteousness," with those sacred acts and of- 
fices of true repentance, whereby, through faith in the 
Blood of Christ, the sinner is justified, " with burnt- 
offerings," not of beasts without spot or defect, but of 
holy innocent persons, enfired with godly zeal and 
devotion to Thy service, " and whole burnt-offerings :" 
even the whole man ; devoted to a whole, entire obe- 
dience, through the whole course of life : " then shall 
they offer young bullocks upon Thine Altar :" them- 
selves shall they offer upon the altar of a pure heart, 
a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, through 
Jesus Christ, &,c. 

Glory be to the Father, &,c. 

As it was in the beginning, &,c. 

PSALM CII. 

" Hear my prayer, O Lord," as to the saving ef- 
fects thereof; " and let my crying come unto Thee :" 
be accepted by Thee, since my loud voice manifests 
the inward zeal and devotion of my heart. 

2. " Hide not Thy face from me," under the thick 
cloud of my transgressions, u in the time of my trou- 
ble ;" when burdened with the weight of sin, or vio- 
lence of temptation; "incline Thine ears to me: 
when I call," being penitent and humbled under Thy 
mighty hand, " O hear me, and that right soon," there 
being danger in delay. 

3. " For my days are consumed away like smoke :" 
spent in airy, light, vain, unprofitable, and black sin- 

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(•) ® 

174 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

ful works : " and my bones," the strength and sup- 
port of my soul, " are burnt up as it were a firebrand," 
scorched and withered through the exorbitant heat of 
carnal concupiscence, which renders me liable to the 
fire of Thy wrath. 

4. " My heart is smitten down and withered like 
grass :" as when the grass is mowed down, and with- 
ered by the sun's hot beams ; so my soul, being smit- 
ten down by the violence of temptation, is dried up 
and withered in her devotion : " so that I forget to 
eat my bread," neglecting the sweet refreshments of 
Thy holy Word and Sacraments, where the soul is 
nourished with the Bread of Life. 

5. " For the voice of my groaning," under the 
heavy burden of my sins, " my bones will scarce cleave 
to my flesh ;" being macerated by the strict rigour of 
penitential severities. 

6. "I am become like a pelican in the wilder- 
ness," flying even the sight and society of men, through 
shame and confusion of face ; " and like an owl that 
is in the desert," that takes up her lodging in ruinous 
houses, not inhabited. 

7. " I have watched," in the serious consideration 
of my sinful and sad condition, " and am even as it 
were a sparrow" flying the company of sinners, " that 
sitteth alone upon the house-top," solitary, serious, 
and studious how to escape the snares of sin below, 
and mount up my soul to Heaven above. 

8. " Mine enemies revile me all the day long :" 
such as hate to be reformed, and are enemies to a se- 

@ . ® 



® ® 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 175 

rious and settled course of religion, continually deride 
and revile me : " and they that are mad upon me" 
with rage and fury " are sworn together against me," 
have conspired my ruin. 

9. " For I have eaten ashes as it were bread ;." 
my meat was as unpleasant to me as if I had eaten 
ashes; " and mingled my drink with weeping." All 
my wonted corporeal refreshments were soured with 
spiritual sorrow for my sins : or, I have exercised the 
penitential rigours of ashes and weeping : sackcloth 
and ashes being the food and clothing of penitents\ 

10. " And that because of Thine indignation and 
wrath :" that is the chief ingredient in my sorrow, 
that I have deservedly incurred Thy wrath : " for 
Thou hast lifted me up^ and cast me down." Thou 
seemest, as it were, to raise me up, that I may fall 
with the greater weight and violence : or, Thou hast 
raised me to great honour, to be stamped after Thine 
own image ; but, for want of understanding, I have 
fallen down as low as the beasts that perish. 

11. " My days are gone like a shadow :" they are 
not only vain, empty, and unprofitable, but also dark- 
some and gloomy, because I have declined from the 
Sun of Righteousness : " and I am withered like 
grass," for want of the celestial dew of Divine grace. 

12. " But Thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever ;" 
whilst all other things pass away, Thou changest not, 
being immutable, as in mercy to raise up, so in jus- 
tice to cast down : " and Thy remembrance through- 

a August, in loc, 
® ; @ 



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176 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

out all generations." Thy gracious promises both of 
the life that now is, and of that which is to come, are 
in all ages remembered to Thy praise and glory. 

13. " Thou shalt arise/' to redeem, deliver, and 
defend, " and have mercy upon Sion ;" Thy Church 
militant here upon earth : " for it is time that Thou 
have mercy upon her :" the time of this life is the 
seasonable time of mercy, because it is a time of 
misery; "yea, the time is come;" even the fulness 
of time is completed, of our redemption and sal- 
vation. 

14. " And why ? Thy servants think upon her 
stones ;" both Angels and Saints resent with much 
regret the dispersed members of Thy Church : " and 
it pitieth them to see her in the dust." They pity 
her distractions and confusions, and have great 
desires to succour and relieve her. 

15. "The heathen shall fear Thy Name, O 
Lord ;" which now they blaspheme : but being con- 
verted from their idolatries, and from all the errors 
of their ways, they shall with us adore the blessed 
and saving Name of Jesus : " and all the kings of 
the earth Thy Majesty :" being converted unto Thee, 
they shall in all humility confess the greatness of 
Thy Majesty far to transcend their greatest power 
and glory. 

16. " When the Lord shall build up Sion," 
repair the breaches of His Church, and settle it upon 
the foundation of Prophets and Apostles, " and when 
His glory shall appear," the glory of His great grace 

® — •',--, — — © 



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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 177 

shall manifest itself in the edification and support of 
His Church, upon the pillars of truth and peace ; 

17. " When He turneth Him to the prayer of 
the poor destitute," for His ears are ever open to the 
prayers of the humble and poor in spirit, and such 
as be destitute of all exterior consolations, " and des- 
piseth not their desire ;" when flowing from a true 
faith, and enfired with charity and devotion. 

IS. " This shall be written for those that come 
after :" that the succeeding people of God, under the 
Gospel, may have upon record the wondrous works 
of God under the Law : " and the people that shall 
be born," regenerate and born anew, of water and 
of the Holy Ghost, " shall praise the Lord," for 
the grace of redemption and great mercy attained. 

19. " For He hath looked down from His sanc- 
tuary :" God the Son, from the bosom of His Father 
above, looked down with the eye of His mercy upon 
us miserable sinners here below : " out of Heaven 
did the Lord behold the earth:" when the King of 
Heaven descended upon earth, when the Day-spring 
on high came down to visit us, when the Word was 
made flesh, for the building up of Sion : 

23. "That He might hear the mourning of such 
as are in captivity," groaning under the bonds and 
chains of their sins ; " and deliver" out of the gulf 
of sin and clutches of Satan " the children appointed 
unto death;" as the due wages of sin; 

21. " That they may declare the Name of the 
Lord in Sion," being delivered from the sad con- 
12 
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178 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

dition of being the children of the devil in the vast 
womb of this wicked world, to be the children of 
God in the sacred womb of their mother, the Church, 
they might, therein and therefore extol the great 
Name of God ; " and His worship at Jerusalem ;" 
promote and advance the holy worship of God in His 
Church, and unanimously join therein together, to 
the glory of His Name ; 

22. " When the people are gathered together ;" 
when the people of God, dispersed through the world, 
shall be nevertheless joined together in the unity of 
the true faith, enlivened by Divine charity, " and the 
kingdoms also to serve the Lord :" when both the 
kings, and the people of their dominion, assemble 
together, and join with one heart and one mouth in 
the public worship of God ; then shall the Name of 
the Lord be magnified in Sion. 

23. " He brought down my strength in my jour- 
ney :" in the mean time, whilst I walk in the way of 
repentance, my strength is decayed : " and He hath 
shortened my days," of health and outward prosperity, 
that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. 

24. " But I said," addressing myself unto God by 
prayer, " O my God," the God of my life, of my 
health, of my joy, my God and my all, " take me not 
away in the midst of mine age;" before the natural 
course of my life expire : " as for Thy years, they en- 
dure throughout all generations," being from everlast- 
ing to everlasting, in respect of Whose duration, the 
years of my life are nothing ; and therefore I humbly 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 179 

beg, they may not be shortened through the violence 
of Thy afflicting hand. 

25. " Thou, Lord," Who art without beginning, 
" in the beginning" of time " hast laid the foundations 
of the earth;" which is the centre of this visible 
world : " and the Heavens are the works of Thy 
hands," both the Heavens and the earth, and all 
things visible and invisible, are of Thy creation. 

26. " They shall perish," as having their begin- 
ning in time : " but Thou shalt endure " as being 
from all eternity, and through all the changes of 
created beings remaining in Thyself unchangeable. 

27. " They all shall wax old as doth a garment," 
which is worse for the wearing; " and as a vesture 
shalt Thou change them," from their present state 
and condition ; " and they shall be changed," in their 
qualities and operations. " But Thou art the same ;" 
in Thyself immutable : " and Thy years shall not 
fail," or rather, being not liable at all to any term of 
years, but without either beginning or end of time. 

28. " The children of Thy servants," if they fol- 
low the steps of their godly fathers, in the sacred ser- 
vice of God, " shall continue," in the land of the liv- 
ing, being translated from the life of grace, to the life 
of glory ; " and their seed" of good works, the issue of 
their true faith, " shall stand fast in Thy sight," 
being treasured up in Heaven, where no moth or rust 
corrupteth, &,c. 

Glory be to the Father, &,c. 



As it was in the beginning, &c. 



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180 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

PSALM CXXX. 

" Out of the depths" both of my sins and suffer- 
ings, and cut of the depth of my heart, wounded with 
godly sorrow for my sins, " have I called/' as Jonas 
out of the whale's belly, so do I lift up my voice in 
prayer, to be delivered from the power of the devil, 
" unto Thee, O Lord :" with Whcm alcne is power to 
help and save me : " Lord, hear my voice," in my 
prayers which I make before Thee. 

2. " O let Thine ears," which are not corporeal, 
but wholly spiritual, and therefore more quick and 
intense to u consider well the voice of my complaint," 
be intent to release me of my sins, under the weight 
whereof my soul complains. 

8. " If Thou, Lord," to whom no secrets are hid, 
" wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss," so as 
to take notice of all our faults and failings, and pun- 
ish us accordingly, " O Lord, who may abide it ?" 
There is none so exactly righteous and holy, as to 
abide the strict scrutiny of Thy vindicative justice ; 
since every sin, from which none is free, is, in respect 
of the Person offended, infinite. 

4. " For there is mercy with Thee," to forgive 
the sins of the penitent, and to raise up them that 
are fallen ; " therefore shalt Thou be feared," or wor- 
shipped with reverence and godly fear, Thy mercy 
engaging and sweetly working upon our hearts, to fear 
Thy name. 

5. " I look for the Lord," even for his saving 
mercy, " my soul doth wait for Him:" to heal her 

<•>— — ■ — -<S> 



® . ® 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 181 

sores, and satisfy her longing desires with the oil and 
wine of mercy and consolation : " in His word is my 
trust ;" for therein He hath promised to pardon the 
penitent, to heal the broken-hearted. And I doubt 
not but He will be as good as his word ; and there- 
fore, 

6. ' ; My soul fleeth unto the Lord" upon the spir- 
itual wings of ardent desires, strong hcpes, fervent 
prayers, &c, " before the morning-watch ;" very early 
in the morning of the day; or, in the morning of my 
life, the time of my youth : " I say, before the morn- 
ing-watch," or, more earnestly than such who are ap- 
pointed watchmen for the night do wait for the morn- 
ing, to be discharged from their watch, and have liber- 
ty to repose themselves. 

7. " O Israel," ye that are of the number of God's 
people, members of His Church, if you be wise, trust 
not in yourselves, nor in others, but " trust in the 
Lord :" Who never faileth to help them that put their 
trust in him, and be doing good : ;i for with the Lord 
there is mercy :" there is, there was, and ever will be 
mercy with Him, to justify sinners that truly repent 

I and believe in Him ; for His mercy endureth forever ; 

| " and with Him there is plenteous redemption." His 
precious Blood, whereby we are redeemed, is plenti- 
fully sufficient to satisfy for our sins, and not for ours 
only, but for the sins of the whole world. 

8. " And He shall redeem Israel" — no doubt but 
He will, more especially above all others, redeem 

j His own inheritance " from all his sins." Be they 

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®- (5) 

182 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

never so many, mortal, and venial, if truly repented, 
through faith in the Blood of Christ, they shall be 
pardoned. And therefore we have great reason to give 

Glory to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &/C. 

PSALM CXLIII. 

" Hear my prayer, O Lord," for the obtaining of 
what is good, " and consider my desire," for the avoid- 
ing of what is evil ; " hearken unto me," in both res- 
pects, " for Thy truth," of Thy promises made to 
hear the prayers of the humble, " and for Thy right- 
eousness' sake," in performing all such promises to 
those who trust not in their own, but in thy righteous- 
ness, condemning themselves, that they may be ab- 
solved by Thee. 

2. " And enter not into judgment" without any 
intermixture of mercy, " with Thy servant, O Lord :" 
I dare not say Thy son ; but confess, with the prodigal, 
that " I have sinned against Heaven," &c, but reject 
me not from among the number of thy servants : " for 
in Thy sight," Who art a God of purer eyes than to 
behold iniquity, " shall no man living" in this frail 
mortal flesh, " be justified," by his own merits, but 
by the mercy of God, through the merits of Christ. 

3. " For the enemy" the devil " hath persecuted 
my soul ;" and doth incessantly undermine its inno- 
cence, by his temptations and snares ; " he hath 
smitten my life down to the ground :" so that my soul 
grovels in the dust of earthly desires : " he hath laid 

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<§) © 

CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 183 

me in the darkness," involved in the night of secular 
lusts, " as the men that have been long dead," in their 
trespasses and sins, having no sense or feeling of their 
desperate condition. 

4. "Therefore is my spirit vexed within me;" 
my conscience within me being defiled ; and my soul, 
which would aspire to Heaven-ward, depressed with 
the weight of her sins, and the corruption of her 
flesh, is a great corrosive and vexation of my spirit ; 
" and my heart within me is desolate/' destitute of all 
consolation. 

5. " Yet do I remember the time past," w T herein 
Thy people have been exercised and tried, both by 
adversity and prosperity, both by temptations and de- 
liverances ; and for my consolation, and strengthened 
my hopes of deliverance, " I muse upon all Thy 
works :" wherein I observe, as Thy great pow r er and 
wisdom, so Thy mercy allaying the rigour of Thy 
justice : " yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy 
hands," wherein I find Thy mercy to be over Thy 
works, and that I, though an unprofitable work of Thy 
hands, may obtain mercy also. 

6. " I stretch forth my hands unto Thee :" both 
praying With my lips, and working w T ith my hands, to 
obtain my petitions : and " my soul" pours forth herself 
in the expansion of my hands, w T hich being in herself 
dry and barren of consolation " gaspeth unto Thee," 
the Fountain of living waters, and Well-spring of 
Divine graces, even " as a thirsty land" gaspeth to 
be filled and satisfied with rain from heaven. 

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<5) ; — ® 

184 THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS [PART I. 

7. " Hear me, O Lord," watering my thirsty soul 
with the celestial dew of Thy Divine grace; " and 
that soon ;" delay not to satisfy the thirst of my soul, 
which is great; " for my spirit waxeth faint :" hath 
lost its wonted fervour of devotion, being oppressed 
with the burden of her sins, and destitute of 
sweet refreshments and influences of Thy Holy Spirit: 
" hide not Thy face from me/' as one turns away 
his face from his enemy, or one with whom he is 
justly offended, " lest I be like unto them that go 
down into the pit." If Thou look not in mercy 
upon me, I shall be in the same condition with them 
that are involved in the pit both of sin and of 
death. 

8. "O let me hear," be made sensible of" Thy 
loving-kindness betimes in the morning :" early and 
betimes in this life ; and after the night of this life is 
ended, in the morning of that day which never shall 
have end ; " for in Thee is my trust :" not in myself, 
nor in any help of man, for it is but vain ; and so will 
prove my trust in Thee also, except I obey Thy will, 
and walk in Thy ways: the which that I may do, I 
humbly beg " show Thou me the way" of Thy laws, 
and the paths of Thy commandments, " wherein I 
should walk :" as leading to my native home of 
Heaven, where my immortal soul was first framed by 
the hands of the Almighty ; " for unto Thee, O Lord, 
do I lift up my soul," which being made after Thine 
image, aspires to become perfect in the beatifical 
vision and fruition of Thy sacred Majesty. In which 

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CHAP. XI.] PARAPHRASED. 185 

way being sore let and hindered, it implores Thy 
assistance, saying, 

9. " Deliver me from mine enemies, O God :" 
both visible and invisible, ghostly and bodily adver- 
saries : " for I flee unto Thee," when assaulted by 
them, "to hide me" under the covert of Thy protec- 
tion, from all the storms of temptations which daily 
arise in the tumultuous sea of this life. 

10. " Teach me," who am naturally blind and 
careless of my duty, " to do the thing that pleaseth 
Thee ; not only to know, but to do thy Will ; not 
to follow mine own pleasure, but what is pleasing 
and acceptable unto Thee : " for Thou art my God ;" 
Who hast created and redeemed me : and that I may 
be thoroughly sanctified, " let Thy loving Spirit," 
the Spirit of love and verity, " lead me forth" in the 
straight direct way that leads " into the land of right- 
eousness." That is the promised land, the celestial 
Canaan, where alone is perfect, everlasting righteous- 
ness, in the blissful Presence of the God of Right- 
eousness. 

11. "Quicken me, O Lord," who am dull and 
dead-hearted, and faint in the way towards the land 
of the living ; " for Thy name's sake," which I in- 
voke and adore : " and for Thy righteousness' sake," 
not for mine, which is little, and good for little, 
" bring my soul out of trouble," delivering me from 
whatever disturbs the peace of my soul, and hinders 
her progress in the way to Heaven. 

12. " And of thy goodness slay mine enemies," 
® ® 



® — ; ® 

186 MEDITATIONS UPON THE TEARS [PART I. 

mortify in me all unruly lusts and passions that rebel 
against reason and religion, " and destroy all them 
that vex my soul ;" by exciting and fomenting the 
flesh against the spirit, the sensual against her ra- 
tional faculties, that the whole may be obedient unto 
Thee ; " for I am Thy servant." Created, redeemed, 
not to serve my own lusts, and exorbitant passions, 
but to be sanctified or devoted wholly to serve Thee, 
in holiness and righteousness before Thee, all the 
days of my life. And so shall my soul praise Thee 
with joyful lips, and say, 

Glory be to the Father, &,c. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 



MEDITATIONS UPON THE TEARS OF A DEVOUT 
SOUL. 

" Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be 
comfortedV 

This present life is to the religious, heavenly- 
minded Christian, a " valley of tears ;" whose heart, 
broken with godly sorrow, is " a well from whence 
the pools are filled with water ," or their eyes run 
over with tears. 

Great are the consolations of these spiritual 
mourners, both in this life " they go from strength to 
strength' 1 :" but more especially in the life to come ; 
" For unto the God of gods shall every one appear in 
Sion." 

b Matt. v. 4. c Psalm Ixxxiv. 6, d Psalm lxxxiv. 7. 
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® ® 

CHAP. XI.] OF A DEVOUT SOUL. 187 

There are two kinds of such saving tears ; or "two 
springs from whence these healing waters flow : the 
one from above, the other from beneath. 

1. The first are such tears as issue from the heart 
that is wounded with the love of Christ ; and inflamed 
with ardent desires of a more near and immediate 
union and communion with God, Who is Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost, in the Heaven of Heavens : wishing 
with strong cryings and tears, and saying, 

" My soul is athirst for God, even for the living 
God : when shall I come and appear before the Pres- 
ence of God" 1" When shall I be so happy as to see 
my God, " not as now in a glass darkly, but face to 
face f ? " to behold the fair beauty of the Lord g ," to 
the ravishing of my soul with His transcendent per- 
fections ? 

2. The second kind of tears, are such as flow 
from the heart that is pierced with godly sorrow for 
sin. So it follows ; " My tears have been my meat 
day and night : while they daily say unto me, Where 
is now thy God h V 

What else but sorrow and sadness can seize and 
possess the religious soul, from whom God is estrang- 
ed for sin : whilst the devil and his angels triumph- 
ing, insult over her being thus forsaken, saying, 
" Where is now thy God V' 

Both these sorts of tears St. Augustine begged of 
God, under the notions of " the upper and the nether 
springs, 5 ' which Achsah begged of her father Caleb. 

e Psalm xlii. 2. f 1 Cor. xiii. 12. g Psalm xxvii. 4. 

h Psalm xlii. 3. i Joshua xv. 19. 

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188 MEDITATIONS UPON THE TEARS [PART I. 

And this is also my humble suit unto the Lord 
my God, and my Father ; That it may please Him, 
Who turneth the hearts of the sons of men as the 
rivers of waters, to turn the stream of my corrupt 
affections, from the pomps and vanities of this wick- 
ed world, and from all the sinful lusts of the flesh : 
that I may be greatly enamoured with the joys of 
Heaven, and the ravishing beauties of the Divine 
Presence there : and withal, to be deeply sensible of 
my sins, which render me unfit and incapable of ad- 
mission into the presence of the most holy God : but 
withal, not distrusting but that, through such mysti- 
cal waters, the ship of my soul shall be w r afted to that 
haven of peace and felicity, where tears shall be 
wiped from all eyes, and all heads crowned with the 
joy of the Lord. 

THE SECOND MEDITATION. 

We read that in the days of Noah, " both the 
windows of Heaven were opened, and the fountains 
of the great deep below were broken up ' ;" whence 
issued that universal deluge which washed away the 
sinful pollutions of the old world. 

Thus, by these devout tears which are extorted 
through the ardent love of God, and earnest desires 
of Heaven above, together with the tears of godly 
sorrow for sin upon earth below ; the old man is 
washed from his impurities, and becomes a mystical 
" new Heaven and a new earth, in which dvvelleth 
righteousness'. " 

k Gen. vii. 11. 1 2 Pet. iii. 13. 
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® ® 

CHAP. XI.] OF A DEVOUT SOUL. 1S9 

My blessed Redeemer, to fulfil all righteousness, 
was Himself redeemed with a pair of turtle doves : 
and that I may obtain eternal redemption by Him, 
amongst other Christian performances, it is but meet 
I return back this offering unto my Lord, in the two- 
fold compunction of my heart, and of my spirit ; 
mourning like a dove, 1, for my daily backslidings, 
and the incessant temptations I suffer in the house of 
my pilgrimage here upon earth ; 2, " groaning ear- 
nestly to be clothed upon with our house which is 
from Heaven 1 "." 

" They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." 

" He that now gceth on his way of this life weep- 
ing, and beareth good seed"," watered with hie tears 
of godly sorrow, from whence the worthy fruits of 
true repentance grow ; " shall doubtless come again 
with joy," in the life to come, " and bring his sheaves 
with him ;" the fruits of his good works being trea- 
sured up in the granary of Heaven. 

And we are commanded by our Lord, through 
almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, " to lay up for our- 
selves treasures in Heaven, where neither rust nor 
moth doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break 
through and steal'." 

THE THIRD MEDITATION. 

" My son, let tears fall down over the dead%" 
(saith Syracides.) 

Such tears, as the words in the common sense 
intend, are frequent enough : but, as St. Augustine 

m 2 Cor. v. 2. n Ps. cxxvi. 6. o Matt. vi. 29. p Ecclus. xxxviii. 16. 

® — ® 



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190 MEDITATIONS UPON THE TEARS [PART I. 

observes, Non sunt in te viscera misericor dice, — Thou 
hast no true bowels of mercy, to weep for that death 
which is no other but the separation of the soul from 
the body, and not to weep much more for that death 
which separates God from the soul : For as the soul 
is the life of the body, so God is the life of the soul ; 
Whose departure from the soul for sin, deserves to 
be lamented with a flood of tears. 

And did we but rightly consider the heinousness 
of every sin we commit, as it is an offence of the in- 
finite Majesty of the most just and holy God ; " we 
would esteem" (saith the seraphic doctor) " all the 
days of our life too few to appease the wrath of God 
with the continual laments and tears of penitence." 

But wo and alas ! my heart is hard and stony, 
and easily yields to such overflowing of tears : but I 
humbly beg that it may please the Lord to smite this 
rock, my hardened heart, with the rod of His father- 
ly correction, that it may be within me " a well of 
water springing up unto everlasting lifeV 



THE FOURTH MEDITATION. 

" Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with Thine ears 
consider my calling ; hold not Thy peace at my tears : 
for I am a stranger with Thee r ," &c. 

Hence there is great cause for tears to flow, in 
that my soul being stamped after the image of my 
God, and having therefore no true consolation but in 
the Lord, is yet absent in the body, and estranged 

q John iv. 14. r Psalm xxxix. 12, 13. 

® _____ — ® 



®__ (?) 

CHAP. XI.] OF A DEVOUT SOUL. 191 

from Him, through the pressures of this corruptible 
flesh. 

O that the serious consideration of this sad con- 
dition of my soul, might deeply wound the same with 
the piercing darts of a salutary repentance, and de- 
vout affections, to lament my manifold iniquities, 
which have separated betwixt me and my God : to 
lament the continual assaults of my ghostly enemies, 
against the innocence and peace of my conscience : 
to lament the too much estranging of my heart 
through the coldness of my love to my blessed Crea- 
tor and Redeemer : to lament the great disorder of 
my affections, and the sordid earthiness of my de- 
sires ; to lament that I am so much a stranger to my 
native home of Heaven, where my immortal soul was 
originally created, after the image of her Maker, and 
infused to animate this corruptible flesh : to lament 
that my heart is not surely fixed there, where true 
joys are to be found ; but still cleaves to the dust, 
wallowing in the mire of sensuality and earthiness, 
though here she meets with nothing but what is 
vanity and vexation of spirit. 



O most just and merciful God, Who being by sin 
offended art by true repentance appeased, be propi- 
tious to the prayers of Thy faithful people ; and in 
great mercy turn away from us those scourges of Thy 
wrath which our sins have justly deserved, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

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-© 



192 MEDITATIONS UPON THE TEARS, ETC. [PART I. 

II. 

Remember not, Lord, cur offences, nor the of- 
fences of our forefathers, neither take Thcu vengeance 
of our sins ; but spare us, gocd Lcrd, spare Thy peo- 
ple, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious 
Blood, and be not angry with us for ever. 

III. 

O God, Whose nature and property it is ever to 
have mercy and to forgive, receive cur humble peti- 
tions : and though we be tied and bound with the 
chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of Thy great 
mercy loose us, for the honour of Jesus Christ, our 
Mediator and iVdvocate. Amen. 




©~ 



-® 



®- 



-'•> 




CHAPTER XII. 



MEDIT lTI S ASTE PH 

Us, 



rERa re .-: pahta^jeha df r~:z iesrets os 
"z::i:::?. hath done ajste srrnziD F02 



®- 



13 



I. THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD. 

O most holy and ever-blessed Jesus, Who vouch- 
safedst, for the redemption of mankind, to be made 
! man: by the blessed merits of Thy mysterious incar- 
nation, grant me to become one Spirit with Thee, 
Who be earnest one flesh with me. 

II. NATIVITY. 

Thou, blessed Lord, wert miraculously born of a 
pure immaculate Virgin, by the power of the Holy 
Ghost overshadowing her : grant me, bv the same 
power of the Most High, to possess a pure virgin soul, 
in a pure and chaste body, and to be fruitful in all 
good works. 

III. CIRCUMCISION. 

Holy Jesus, Who vouchsafedst to be circumcised 
the eighth day, and made obedient to the law, for 



6 



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194 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART I. 

man ; grant unto me, I humbly beg, the true circum- 
cision of the Spirit, that my heart and all my mem- 
bers may be mortified from all carnal and worldly 
lusts, and whatever hinders my regular obedience to 
Thy most holy laws. 

IV. BAPTISM. 

By the merits and mysteries of Thy Baptism in 
the river Jordan, wash me thoroughly from my wick- 
edness, and cleanse me from my sins, whereby I have 
unhallowed those sacred and saving waters of my 
Baptism, and too often perjuriously broken my vow 
and promise made therein. 

v. FASTING. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst fast forty days and forty 
nights, forgive me the manifold acts of gluttony and 
drunkenness, riot and excess, whereof I have been 
guilty : and by the virtue and power of Thy miracu- 
lous fast, grant me the mastery over my rebellious ap- 
petite to live soberly, that I may also live righteously 
and godly in this present world. 

VI. TEMPTATION. 

Holy Jesus, Who being fasting wast tempted of 
the devil, and overcame him; grant me, by the in- 
fluences of Thy blessed Spirit, so devoutly to intend 
the holy duties of fasting and prayer, that by the pow- 
er of Thy victory over the devil, I may have strength 
and power to triumph over " the devil, the world, and 

® — © 



® ® 

chap, xii.] upon Christ's life and passion. 195 

the flesh, and to continue Thy faithful servant and 
Soldier to my life's end." 

VII, DOCTRINE AND EXAMPLE. 

Holy Jesus, Who being inaugurated in Thy pro- 
i phetical office by Baptism, and confirmed by the van- 
| quishment of the devil, went about preaching the Gos- 
pel, doing good, healing all manner of sickness, and 
all manner of diseases amongst the people, being, by 
Thy doctrine and example, "the Way" and "the 
Truth" that leads unto " Life;" grant me to believe 
aright all Thy revelations, to obey all Thy commands, 
to walk in Thy steps, and so to " follow the light of 
the world, that I walk not in darkness, but may have 
the light of life." 

VIII. HE 13 CONSPIRED AGAINST. AND BETRAYED. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst condescend to have Thy 
! precious life conspired against by the Jews, and to be 
! betraved and sold by one of Thine own disciples for 
i a vile price, deliver me from the conspiracies of all 
j mine enemies, ghostly and bodily ; and especially 
j from the treachery and corruption of mine own de- 
i ceitful heart, and from the rebellion of my flesh, 
j which for vile things and of no value daily betray my 
I soul into the hands, and under the power and bondage 
! of sin and Satan, the great enemies of my life in grace 
and glory. 

IX. HIS AGONY IN THE GARDEN. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst begin Thy last and bitter 
Passion in a garden, where Thy innocent soul was I 

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®- ® 

196 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART I. 

sorrowful even unto death ; sanctify, I beseech Thee, 
all my natural infirmities and passions, comfort me in 
all my troubles and disquietudes of mind, and make 
me sensible, with godly sorrow, of that heavy wrath 
and curse for sin, which Thou suffered, and I de- 
served. 

X. BLOODY SWEAT. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst prostrate Thyself upon the 
cold earth, sweating drops of blood, under the pres- 
sure of our sins, and out of a sad apprehension of Thy 
ensuing sufferings, " offering up strong cries with 
tears unto Him that is able to save ;" O that my heart 
might inwardly bleed tears of compassion and of com- 
punction, and vent itself by such fervent and effectual 
prayers, with tears of devotion, as to be heard in Hea- 
ven, and healed of all her sores of sin and infirmity. 

XI. SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD. 

Holy Jesus, Who with all sweetness of patience 
and submission didst give up Thyself wholly to the 
will of Thy Heavenly Father, endue me with the same 
spirit of lowliness and meekness, patience and con- 
tentedness in all conditions, submitting to the good 
will of my God, both in prosperity and adversity, health 
and sickness, life and death. 

XII.^ APPREHENSION. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst yield Thyself to be appre- 
hended, when Thou mightest escape, and to be bound 
as a malefactor, being cleaner than an angel of light ; 
O let not my soul be seized by any infernal fiends, to 

®— ' ® 



® <§) 

! chap, xii.] upon Christ's life and passion. 197 

eternal horror in the other world : but out of the fangs 
! and clutches of all the spirits and powers of darkness, 
good Lord, deliver me : from the bonds and chains of 
my sins, and from that dismal sentence, " Take him 
and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into utter 
darkness," good Lord deliver me. 

XIII. ARRAIGNMENT AND CONDEMNATION. 

Holy Jesus, Who being seized by rude hands, 
wast led as an innocent Lamb to the slaughter, hoot- 
ed at, rated, reviled, reproached, falsely accused, and 
unjustly condemned by unjust judges here upon earth, 
being Thyself the most just Judge of Heaven and 
earth; O be not a severe and angry Judge, when I 
shall stand before Thy Tribunal, but vouchsafe to be 
I then my Mediator, and answer for me, who am not 
able to answer Thee one of a thousand, if Thou 
shouldest be strict to mark what I have done amiss : 
but " in Thee have I put my trust ; Thou shalt answer 
for me, O Lord my God." 

From all the accusations of the devil and his an- 
gels, from the accusations of all men and of all wo- 
men, with whom I have been guilty of any sin, or who 
have been conscious of any of my many sinful pollu- 
tions, and from the accusations of my own conscience 
in the day of judgment, good Lord deliver me. 

XIV. HE IS SPITTED UPON. 

Blessed be that infinite mercy and humility of 
Thine, holy Jesus, whereby Thou sufferedst Thy 
Face, fairer than the children of men, to be polluted 

© — ® 



®_ : © 

193 MEDITATIONS AKD PRAYERS [PART I. 

by filthy ignominious spittings. " O turn Thy face 
away from my sins," whereby I have polluted my soul, 
and profaned Thy holy Name, which is called upon 
me. Turn not Thy face away from me, but turn 
Thy face away from my sins, Who for my sins didst 
not turn Thy face from shame and spitting. 

XV. BUFFETED. 

Holy Jesus, Who didst expose Thy blessed Cheeks 
to the rude cuffs and buffets of hard injurious fists, 
grant that though I may feel, yet I may not be felled 
and overthrown by the buffets of Satan. 

XVI. FORSAKEN OF HIS FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS. 

Holy Jesus, Who wast content to be forsaken of 
all Thy friends and dearest disciples, and to be left 
alone in the hands of cruel men, who, like ravening 
wolves, thirsted after a draught of Thy dearest Blood ; 
O leave me not destitute of Thy assisting Presence, 
when assaulted by my ghostly adversaries ; though I 
have deserved to be forever desolate and forsaken, for 
my manifold treacherous backslidings from Thee. 

XVII. DENIED EY ST. PETER. 

Blessed be that infinite goodness and meekness of 
Thine, Who looking back upon St. Peter when He 
denied and forswore Thee, didst, by that gracious 
chiding look, call him back both to himself and to 
Thee by true repentance. O look thus upon all 
backsliders from Thee, for their correction and sin- 

® ® 



® ® 

chap, xii.] upon Christ's life and passion. 199 

cere conversion ; and " look upon me also, and be mer- 
ciful unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that 
love thy name." 

XVIII. SCOURGED. 

And now behold (O my soul) with the eye of de- 
vout meditation, such a portion of thy Saviour's suf- 
ferings, as is the wonder and astonishment both of 
Heaven and earth. See with what profound humility 
and patience the great Lord of all the world conde- 
scends to be whipped by a merciless crew of soldiers : 
see with what a sweet silence this innocent Lamb 
yields to have His fleece torn off, His body stripped 
naked, and strictly bound to a whipping-post : see Him 
all alone, naked and helpless, where there was no eye 
to pity Him, no heart to have compassion on Him ; 
whilst those merciless caitiffs, with their sharp and 
forked whips, rip up and tear His delicate skin and 
tender flesh, so that His blessed back and breasts, by 
the violence of their cruel lashes, doubled and re- 
doubled, are all gore blood, which from the ghastly 
wounds streamed down His innocent sides. 

"Now when I think hereupon, I pour out my 
heart by myself," even to weeping and wonder : won- 
dering, that the eternal Son of God, the glory of angels 
and beauty of men, should suffer such a cruel and 
shameful punishment ; and weep, that my sins should 
both deserve and cause such sufferings ; and weeping, 
wonder that the Son of God should suffer what I 
deserved. 

© © 



® ® 

200 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART I. 

But since Thou disdainest not, O merciful Lord, 
to be wounded for my transgressions, and bruised for 
mine iniquities ; O let Thy chastisement procure 
my peace with offended Heaven ; and grant, that " by 
Thy stripes my soul may be healed." 

XIX. CROWNED WITH THORNS. 

Holy Jesus, Whose venerable Head was crowned 
with thorns, the curse of the earth, and those thorns 
beaten into Thy Temples with a reed, and with much 
rage; pardon, Lord, all those sins which by the in- 
strumental mediation of all the senses of my head I 
have committed ; " break not the bruised reed," my 
broken heart, with the sad pressure of Thy heavy 
wrath : let Thy thorns, the fruits of the curse which 
we contracted, and Thou sustainedst, deliver me from 
the curse due for my sins, and stop the jaws of death, 
" that the pit shut not her mouth upon me." 

XX. RENOUNCING THE POMPS AND VANITIES OF THIS 
WORLD. 

" Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ :" yet 
wast content with a cross for Thy Throne, with a 
wreath of thorns for Thy Crown, with a reed for Thy 
Regal Sceptre, with gall and vinegar for Thy cates, 
and for thy robes of Majesty only a little linen to 
cover Thy nakedness. O that I were so wise, as 
from Thy example, to despise all the gilded glories, 
empty consolations, nick-named pleasures and profits 
of this present life : choosing, with " Moses, rather 
to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to en- 

®- ® 



® _ — -® 

chap, xii.] upon Christ's life and passion. 201 

joy the pleasures of sin for a season, having an eye 
to the recompense of reward. 55 

XXI. BEARING THE CROSS. 

Blessed Jesus, Who with an invincible patience 
wentest forth bearing Thy Cross, till it sunk Thy 
tender Virginal Body to the earth ; O let me not 
sink under Thy Cross, nor shrink from it, but 
cheerfully take up my cross, whatever it be, and 
carefully undergo all the sacred acts and offices of true 
repentance, which is the cross of sinners, and follow 
Thee my dearest Saviour, Who didst ■ ' suffer for us, 
leaving us an example, that we should follow Thy 
steps. 55 

XXII. crucified. 

Holy Jesus, Who wast lifted up upon the Cross, to 
draw all men unto Thee ; and didst hang on a cursed 
tree, to abolish the curse contracted by eating the 
fruit of the forbidden tree, and wast numbered with 
the transgressors, crucified amongst thieves ; O draw 
my hard and stony heart unto Thee : deliver me from 
the curse by my sins contracted ; and rank me not 
among the cursed goats on Thy left hand, but amongst 
Thy blessed sheep on Thy right hand, in the great 
day of judgment. 

XXIII. all the parts of his body tormented. 

O most holy crucified Jesus, all the parts and 
members of Whose Body were expanded on the Cross, 
as on a tormenting rack ; Thy blessed arms and legs 

® ft 



_ ; __ © 

202 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS. [PART I. 

were with such violence distended, that the joints 
were disparted, the veins burst, the sinews cracked, 
the skin rent, the flesh torn, and all the bones started 
aside : and in this height of distention, Thy innocent 
hands and feet were nailed, for the sinful works of 
our hands ; nailed where the nerves, those convey- 
ances of sense, are the thickest, to the unspeakable 
torment of Thine innocent Body. 

XXIV. THE SUFFERINGS OF HIS SOUL. 

The sorrows and sufferings of Thy Soul were far 
greater, being like " melting wax," molten in the 
fiery furnace of God's wrath for the sins of the world ; 
till the fulness of Thy sufferings being accomplished, 
Thou commendedst Thy Spirit into the hands of God. 

All this sorrow and suffering, grief and torment of 
Thine, I believe verily was for me and for my sins ; 
there being nothing in Thee, the spotless Son of a 
spotless virgin, to grieve, or sorrow, or suffer for. 

O sweetest Saviour, save and deliver me from all 
my sins, whether of knowledge or ignorance, of wil- 
fulness or negligence, of omission or commission ; of 
thought, desire, word, or deed, confessed or not con- 
fessed before Thee : wash them all away in Thy pre- 
cious Blood shed- for me ; nail them to Thy Cross, 
which were the cause of Thy crucifixion ; hide them 
in Thy wounds, Who wast wounded for my trans- 
gressions : and write those wounds of Thine in my 
heart, not with ink, but with the Blood which was 
shed for me ; that in and by those characters of blood 

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® 

CHAP. XII.] MEDITATIONS, ETC. 203 

I may read and learn to die unto sin, and live only 
unto Thee, Who died for me; cleaving steadfastly 
unto Thee, Whose whole Self was so fast nailed to 
the Cross for me. 

By Thy Cross and Passion, both in Scul and 
Body, cleanse me from all filthiness both of flesh and 
spirit ; crucify this corruptible flesh of mine, with all 
the inordinate affections and unruly lusts thereof: 
that being conformed to Thy death, I may be parta- 
ker of Thy resurrection: that " suffering with Thee" 
here, I may " reign with Thee hereafter," where Thou 
livest. 



MEDITATIONS UPON THE DISEASE AND CURE 
OF THE SOUL. 

THE FIRST MEDITATION. 

Of the diseases of the soul 

My soul (through original corruption from our 
first parents contracted) is naturally diseased and dis- 
tempered in all her powers and faculties. 

My understanding blinded, even when it is con- 
I ceited to be most seeing. 

My will averse and disobedient to the holy Will of 
God, and to the dictates of a right understanding. 

My imagination roving and more voluble than 
leaves tossed with the wind, through the various toss- 
ings of terrene affections. 

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_ — ® 

204 MEDITATIONS UPON THE DISEASE [PART I. 

All my affections are disordered and restless, like 
bones out of joint, being inverted, turned off, or weak- 
ly inclined to their true and proper object. 

My sensual appetite is the seat of that self-love, 
which is the seminary of all inordinate lusts, and of 
all sinful pleasures, whence the filthy vapours of seve- 
ral vices are exhaled, as from a stinking and loath- 

7 o 

some dunghill. 

My heart panting with an insatiate desire of riches, 
sensual pleasures, and swelling with the pride of life. 

All my senses are as so many windows to let sin 
into my soul, and death by sin. 

My whole immortal rational being is altogether 
degenerate from its noble descent and nature, being 
transformed from a celestial into an earthly temper, 
from a spiritual into a carnal nature, by wallowing in 
the mire of sensuality and earthiness, forgetting, or but 
slightly remembering, what does necessarily conduce 
to her eternal health and happiness. 

Psal. vi. 2. " Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for 
I am weak : O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed." 

Ver. 3. " My soul also is sore troubled : but, Lord, 
how long wilt Thou punish me ?" 

Ver. 4. " O turn Thee unto me, and deliver my 
soul : and save me for Thy mercies' sake." 

Ver. 5. ic For in death no man remembereth 
Thee : and who will give Thee thanks in the pit?" 

Blessed Jesus, Who art both the Physician and 
Physick of sin-sick souls ; Who, after a wonderful 
manner hast made a salve for all our spiritual wounds, 

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® ® 

CHAP. XII.] AND CURE OF THE SOUL. 205 

of Thine own Wounds and Stripes and Blood ; through 
faith in this Blood, intermixed with my penitent tears, 
I will bathe my diseased soul, and ever pray " by Thy 
Stripes to be healed." 

Come, Holy Ghost, and by Thy celestial influences 
apply to all my spiritual distempers those healing re- 
medies my Blessed Redeemer hath so dearly pur- 
chased. 

Illuminate rny darkened understanding to give a 
right estimate of all things, according to their respec- 
tive dignity and value : as also to discern, without 
deceit, what is to be desired, and what to be avoided. 

Subdue the rebellion of my will, to embrace and 
follow the uncorrupted judgment of my understand- 
ing, and not its own licentious inclinations. 

Regulate my disordered affections, that they no 
more, by their tumult and sway, first darken my judg- 
ment, and then cast down my spirit from its state of 
integrity. 

Suppress my exorbitant appetite, to be subject to 
the dictates and commands of right reason, and holy 
religion. 

And my soul being thus cured, and thus also armed 
: with the graces of God's Holy Spirit, shall stand firm 
i against the shock of all temptations, against all the 
assaults of the devil, the world, and the flesh, that 
they wound me no more, or in the least infringe the 
innocency, purity, and peace, of my conscience. 



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206 MEDITATIONS UPON THE DISEASE [PART I. 

THE SECOND MEDITATION. 

Of the love and cure of the soul, before that of 
the body. 

All that Christian virtue, wherein the health of 
the human soul consists, is defined by St. Augustine 
to be, " in the right order of charity ;" to love above 
all what is most worthy to be beloved; and to love 
all other things according to their respective degree 
of excellency each above other : And thus, 

1. In the highest order, and most intense degree 
of charity, stands the Supreme Goodness ; even the 
most High and most Holy God, He is to be loved 
above all, both for His infinite glories in Himself, 
and innumerable graces by Him conferred upon all 
men, and all things. 

2. The immortal soul of every man, is, next after 
God, to be by every man beloved above all other 
created beings. 

And these two objects of love are so nearly con- 
joined, that the one is not rightly ordered without 
the right love of the other : for no man truly loves 
God, who loves not his own soul next unto God : and 
he loves not his own soul, who loves not God above 
all, in union with Whom the health and happiness of 
his soul consists. 

3. In the next degree of charity, is the soul of thy 
neighbour, the health whereof is to be regarded next 
to thine own soul's health, commanded by that gen- 
eral rule of charity, " Thou shalt love thy neighbour 
as thyself." 

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®— — ® 

CHAP. XII.] AND CURE OF THE SOUL. 207 

4. And after these, the health and good estate of 
the body is to be loved and regarded, that it may 
be serviceable to the health and interests of the 
soul. 

5. The exterior good things of the world, such 
are lands, riches, food, raiment, &c, are in the last 
and lowest degree to be provided and cared for, in 
order to the nourishment and preservation of this 
outward man. 

And thus, blessed Lord, I humbly beg, by Thy 
celestial Spirit of counsel, that all my affections 
may be ordered : no further to be in love with riches, 
or any the outward consolations of the creature, than 
they do necessarily conduce to my bodily support and 
preservation : no further to love my body, but that it 
may be in subjection to my soul : and that my soul 
may be instrumental to the vigour of my spirit, to 
become one spirit with the Lord : to love and to 
fear, to worship and to adore, to serve, honour, and 
obey, my God, Who is the only true proper object of 
love, and that even to ecstasy, in the ravishing admira- 
tion of His transcendent perfections in Himself: 
and also in that He is both the beginning and end of 
my being ; and Whom to enjoy, is fulness of joy for 
evermore. 



THE THIRD MEDITATION. 

There is a vast difference betwixt the soul and 
the body of man, in the dignity both of their nature 
and original. 

<§> ® 



9 ; . ® 

298 MEDITATIONS UPON THE DISEASE [PART I. 

L The soul is of a heavenly descent, but the body 
is of earthly mould and making. 

2. The soul is framed by the hands of the Al- 
mighty, after His own Image ; but the body is be- 
gotten by earthly parents, after the likeness of sinful 
flesh. 

3. The soul is of the same nature with the Angels 
of Heaven, but the body is of kind and constitution 
with the beasts of the earth. 

4. The soul, being the infusion of Heaven, re- 
presents the beauties and perfections of the Godhead ; 
but the body being the result of carnal copulation, 
assimilates only the dim and fading shadows of 
beauty in irrational beings. 

5. Lastly, whatever strength, life, or motion, the 
body enjoys, is by virtue, vigour, and animation of 
the soul, which manifests its immortality and separate 
existence from the dying body. 

It is a strange madness then, that hath seized 
and blinds the minds of most men, to take more care 
and pains for the health, ease, and pleasure of the 
body, which is an earthly, corruptible, and brutish 
being, than for the good of the soul, which is im- 
mortal and incorruptible, of an angelical, divine, 
celestial nature. 

If a finger of the body do but ache, it is lapped 
and bound, and every petty sore is salved, and care- 
fully kept from the least touch that may annoy it : 
and to cure the diseases of the body, no cost, no pains 
are spared, lancing, burning, fasting, and abstaining 

® <§> 



CHAP. XII.] AND CURE OF THE SOUL, 209 

from whatever the physician forbids ; every trouble 
and torture is willingly endured : whilst the sores of 
sin are suffered to fester, and the diseases of the soul 
J are slighted, without due regard to the religious use 
of those holy means which the great Physician of 
Souls has prescribed for their recovery. 

That such was ever the folly of the sons of men, 
is manifest from the Gentile poet ; 

Ut corpus redimas ferrura patieris et ignes, 
Arida nee sitiens era lavabis aquae : 
Ut valeas animo quicquid tolerare riegabis ? 
At pretium pars haec corpore majus habet. 

And as the soul far excels the body, in the judg- 
ment of this heathen ; so the diseases thereof are more 
pernicious and destructive than any bodily distemper 
can be. 

The illness of the body tends only to the disani- 
mation of this corruptible flesh; but the maladies of 
the soul will deprive both soul and body of the life 
both of grace and glory, and render them obnoxious 
to the never-dying torments of hell. 

St. Augustine demands of every one, whose rea- 
son is not clouded, and his mind stupified : Laboras 
tu ut non moriatur homo moriturus, et nan laboras ne 
pereat in ceternum victurus ? " Dost thou labour to 
preserve thy body from death, which must die ; and 
dost not rather labour to preserve thy soul from the 
death of sin, which must live for ever ?" 

But it is propter lenitatem cordis (saith that 
spiritual master) through the levity of the heart, and 

14 



— ■ _ ® 

210 MEDITATIONS UPON THE DISEASE [PART I. 

the neglect of our manifold defects, that we are not 
sensible of the dangerous diseases of our souls : 
whence it is that we often laugh, when we have far 
more cause to weep and mourn. 

I have need, very great need, to have the eyes of 
my mind anointed with the eye-salve of Divine grace ; 
that being thereby enlightened, I may discern all 
the disorders of the inward man ; to see my sins in 
their stain, guilt, and pollution ; in their loathsome 
and destructive nature ; in their offences of an infi- 
nite Majesty : that seeing I may wash them with my 
penitent tears, lance their festering sores with the 
knife of mortification, rip them up in confession 
with godly sorrow for them, and pray, 

" God be merciful unto me, and heal my soul, 
for I have sinned against Thee." 

Whither shall I fly for health, both of soul and 
body, but to Him " Who killeth and maketh alive: 
Who bringeth down to the gates of death,, and bring- 
eth up again 8 V s 

"Who healeth those that are broken in heart, 
and giveth medicine to heal their sickness 1 ?" 

It is Thy saying, holy Jesus, " The whole need 
not a physician, but they that are sick 11 ;" and this in 
order to Thyself, the universal Doctor and Redeem- 
er of the whole sin-sick world : where then canst 
Thou more fitly show Thy skill in healing than in 
the cure of such an ulcerous diseased soul as mine ? 

I have nothing to contribute toward the cure of my 

s 1 Sam. ii. 6. t Psalm cxlvii. 3. n Matt. ix. 12. 

I 

® _____ . & 



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CHAP. XII.] AND CURE OF THE SOUL. 



211 



soul, but to wash its wounds in the brinish tears of a 
broken heart ; receive them, most merciful Saviour, 
and mingle them with Thy precious blood, through a 
lively faith applied to my soul, and so shall I be 
whole. 

Give me of Thy wounds, holy Jesus, to break my 
heart into the wounds of holy compunction, to melt 
it into tears of the most ardent love and sincere de- 
votion, remembering how Thou vouchsafedst to be 
most cruelly wounded and crucified for me. 




-&> 



©- 



-® 




THE 



PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN. 



PART II. 



CHAPTER I. 

OF THE TWO GENERAL CHRISTIAN" DUTIES REQUIRED IN ORDER TO 
THE HOLY COUI^TTNTON OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST. 

The blessed Eucharist, or Sacrament of the 
Lord's Supper, is of all the mysteries of godliness the 
most comprehensive, and applicatory to the soul's 
eternal happiness. It is amongst all Christian du- 
ties of highest dignity, and greatest concern. It is 
both the food and the medicine, the life and the 
health, the strength and defence, the peace, joy, and 
delight of the truly religious soul. It is the most 
effectual means of the nearest union and communion 
with Christ in this life attainable. It is expressly so 
called, " the Communion of the Body of Christ," 
and " the Communion of the Blood of ChristV which 

a 1 Cor. x. 16. 



®- 



-® 



® — ® 

214 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

doctrine we are taught as one of the principles of our 
Religion ; " the Body and Blood of Christ is verily 
and indeed taken and received of the faithful in the 
Lord's Supper\" 

2. In the right and reverent administration, with 
the devout and worthy participation of this " Sacra- 
mental Body of Christ," we are incorporated into His 
holy " mystical Body." So saith our Lord Himself; 
" He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, 
dwelleth in Me, and I in him c ." And such is also 
the doctrine of the Church of Christ, " If with a true 
penitent heart, and lively faith, we receive the Holy 
Sacrament, we spiritually eat the flesh of Christ, and 
drink His Blood ; we dwell in Christ, and Christ in 
us ; we be one with Christ, and Christ with us ; we 
obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of 
His Passion 6 ." 

3. Hence then it follows, that whoever owns the 
name of a Christian, and understands aright what it is 
to be truly so, and not in vain so called, must ac- 
knowledge these two general duties to be incumbent 
upon him : 1. Not to neglect any opportunity of re- 
ceiving this blessed Sacrament. 2. To use all pos- 
sible means', with his utmost endeavours, to receive 
the same worthily. 

I. As to the first ; whoso slights or neglects to 
come, being invited, to the Holy Communion, either, 

1. He rightly understands not the holy religion 
he professeth : or, 

b Church Catechism. c John vi. 56. d Comm. Office. 
® — ® 



® , ® 

CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMUNION. 215 

2. His religion is no other but a bare profession ; 
something that perhaps employs his tongue, and 
strikes upon his ears, to hear and talk about it ; but 
never entered the deep of his heart, truly to believe 
and practise it e ." 

There be too many such persons (God wot) that 
talk much of religion ; yea, many that talk loudly of 
Communion with Christ, and are seemingly zealous 
in the external performance of several Christian du- 
ties, especially in the frequency of long and loud 
prayers : but if themany^wild extravagancies of such 
performances did not lay them open, yet their gen- 
eral neglect of this Sacrament, which is the life and 
quintessence of all Christian offices, and the infalli- 
ble badge of true Christianity, discovers the hypocrisy 
of such seeming zealots ; that, with the old Pharisees, 
" they draw nigh unto God with their mouth, and 
honour Him with their lips ; but their heart is not 
whole with Him, neither are they steadfast in His 
covenant'." Which is further evident, in that, 

3. Such persons make no conscience of sin, which 
is the transgression of the law of Christ. He com- 
mands, saying, "Take, eat," &c- " Drink ye all 
of this g ," &lc. " Do this in remembrance of Me h " 
&c. " Show forth the Lord's death till He come 1 ," 
&,c. " Come unto Me, all ye that are weary k ," &c. 
" Ho, every one that thirsteth, come 1 ," &c. Not to 
come to that blessed Sacrament, being invited, is to dis- 

e Matt. xv. 8. f Isaiah xxix. 13 ; Psalm Ixxviii. 36, 37. 

g Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. h Luke xxii. 19, 20. i 1 Cor. xi. 24—26. 

k Matt. xi. 28. 1 Isaiah lv. 1. 

® ® 



® — _<§> 

216 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

obey all these, and several more positive commands 
of God : which being also frequently read, heard, 
preached, and pressed upon the consciences of men, 
by their conscientious Ministers, and yet still slight- 
ed and disobeyed, will undoubtedly incur, if not pre- 
vented by a timely true repentance and amendment, 
that sad and dismal sentence at the last day, " De- 
part from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire m ." 

4. Disobedience to these commands of our Lord, 
in the neglect of this blessed Sacrament, doth de- 
clare every such person so neglecting, whatever his 
excuses may be, 1, in general, that he is more in 
love with his sins, than with his Saviour : with the 
errors of his ways, than with " the truth which is 
in Jesus" :" or, 2, more particularly, that he prefers 
either his sloth and negligence, or his enmity and 
maliciousness, or his temporal concerns and covet- 
ousness, or, in a word, some secular or sensual lust, 
before the purification of his soul in the Blood of 
Christ, and its nourishment to life eternal. 

5. He disobeys the commands, slights the orders, 
contemns the discipline of Christ's Church, makes 
no conscience of holding Communion with all the 
sound and orthodox members of Christ, and the prac- 
tice of this Communion ; but rather implies, nay, 
openly declares, that he is none of this number, but 
separate and divided from Christ's mystical Body, 
" which is the Church ;" and consequently, not 
quickened with his Spirit ; for these two are insepara- 

m Matt. xxv. 41. n Eph. iv. 21. o Col. i. 24. 
■ <•) 



© 1 — — ® 

CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMUNION. 217 

ble ; " one Body," the Church ; and " one Spirit 15 " 
of truth and holiness, which quickeneth this one 
Body, and this alone. 

The guilt of any which particulars is so inconsis- 
tent with the state of true Christianity, that there is 
no person who reads and seriously considers them, 
can reasonably call himself a member of Christ, or 
acceptably call upon God as such, and yet still con- 
tinue his neglect of this blessed Sacrament. 

6. " Give us this day our daily Bread," is inter- 
preted by St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, St Augustine, St. 
Jerome, and several other Fathers, to be chiefly meant 
of this Sacramental bread; for the words o agrog 
imovatog, signify Supersubstantial Bread, or Bread 
Celestial, such as is the food of Angels, and all im- 
mortal souls stamped after the image of God. 

He then that hungers not after this Bread, but 
willingly and wilfully declines its participation, makes 
a mock of God, in saying this petition, when he prays 
for " daily bread ;" for he declares that he desires not 
from his heart to obtain what he prays for with his 
mouth. 

It is called our " daily Bread," because, 1. it is a 
present remedy and support against our daily infirmi- 
ties and failings ; as it is frequently styled by the Fa- 
thers, the " salve for sin," and the " medicine of the 
soul ;" hence it follows, " Forgive us our trespasses, 
as we forgive," &c. " And lead us not into tempta- 
tion." The connection of which petitions declares 

p Eph. iv. 21. 

® — ■ — — ® 



® — — ■ - . , © 

218 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

the great benefits of this blessed Sacrament: I, for 
the pardon of our sins ; 2, for the maintenance of char- 
ity ; 3, for ghostly fortitude in the resistance of all 
temptations ; 4, for our deliverance from all evil, both 
of sin and punishment. 

2. " Our daily Bread," because daily received by 
the devout Christians of the Primitive Church ; by 
the strength of which Bread, their souls were in- 
flamed with such holy fiery zeal through the love of 
God, that they spared no pains, no labour, to dissem- 
inate the truth of the Gospel, fearing no want, no per- 
secution : but passed through afflictions, through 
"perils by sea, and perils by land, perils by robbers, 
and perils by false brethren, perils in the city, and 
perils in the country ; in weariness and painfulness, 
in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings 
often V 

7. Those blessed souls being nourished and fed 
with this celestial food every day, rendered them by 
so many degrees as there are days in the year, to ex- 
ceed in religious zeal, divine charity, and devotion, 
that of our modern people, who think it sufficient to 
receive the Sacrament but once in the year. But wo 
and alas ! the matter is yet far worse, there being 
many thousands who never receive this blessed Sacra- 
ment scarce once in their lives. Indeed, some through 
ignorance, and some through negligence, but very 
many that pretend to some knowledge and sense of 
religion, will say, that they do receive this blessed 

q 2 Cor. xi. 26. 
®— — — ® 



CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMIJNION. 219 

Eucharist every day, as did the good Christians in the 
beginning, but then it is spiritually, though not sa- 
cramentally. 

There is no doubt but there is a spiritual feeding 
upon Christ by faith, obedience, holy prayers, and 
meditations ; and that the sacramental without this 
spiritual eating, is but a form of godliness, without 
the power thereof; but yet to presume upon the one, 
in the wilful neglect of the other, is to make void the 
efficacy of both. No man will so feed his body upon 
air, open and empty air alone, without substantial 
meats and drinks to nourish the same : and there is 
the same reason for the feeding of the soul in the real 
participation of the Body and Blood of Christ, and 
not. spiritually and in fancy only, which is too gen- 
erally no other but a groundless presumption upon 
the mercies of God, through the merits of Christ. 

8. The sinful neglect of this Blessed Sacrament, 
is one of the greatest causes of so great a decay of 
piety, of so much dulness and deadness of heart of 
all religious performances, of so much averseness from 
the public worship of God, in His House of prayer, 
and of so much irreverence and profaneness therein. 
It is the cause of so many spiritual diseases in the 
souls of men, of so much weakness against tempta- 
tions, of so much wavering in opinion, of so many 
errors, schisms, factions — even because the souls of 
all such are not fed, nourished, strengthened, and re- 
freshed, quickened and confirmed with the precious 
Body and Blood of Christ : the which, being rightly 

<•> - © 



® : ® 

220 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

and reverently received, illuminates the understand- 
ing, purines the will, cleanses the heart, rectifies the 
affections, and renders the whole man apt and active 
to every good work of the Lord. 

II. The second general duty, in order to this holy 
Sacrament, is, To use all possible means and endea- 
vours to receive the same worthily. 

There will need no other reasons to enforce this 
duty, than the terror of those known words of the 
Apostle, " He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.' ' And this 
unworthiness consists in " not discerning the Lord's 
Body," as it immediately follows 1 ". 

Here then every man that hath any care of his 
soul, will desire to know what it is " not to discern 
the Lord's Body," which makes a man liable to dam- 
nation, by being an unworthy communicant at the 
Lord's Table. 

To understand this fully and clearly, we must 
use the light of a distinction. For there is a three-fold 
Body of Christ abstracted from that of His personal 
subsistence as Man of a reasonable soul and human 
flesh subsisting : 1, Mystical, 2, Doctrinal, 3, Sacra- 
mental. And not to discern the Lord's Body in any 
of these three meanings thereof, makes unworthy 
receivers. 

1. The mystical Body of Christ is His Church 5 . 
And he discerns not this Body of Christ, who rightly 

r 1 Cor. xi. 29. s Eph. i. 22, 23 j Col. i. 24. 
® — <§> 



® ® 

CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMUNION. 221 

believes not " The Holy Catholic Church, the Com- 
munion of Saints." 

It is one of the names whereby this holy Sacra- 
ment is called, The Holy Communion ; excluding 
thence as unworthy all that are not within the pale 
and communion of Christ's Church, both unbeliev- 
ers and misbelievers, heretics and schismatics : all 
disobedient, factious, contentious spirits, with all sorts 
of separatists from the Church of Christ, whether in 
faith or charity, doctrine or worship. For all worthy 
communicants, " being many, are one body in Christ, 
and every one members of one another. v ' 

2. The doctrinal Body of Christ, is the doctrine 
of Christianity, or the " body of faith," wherein all 
sound, orthodox Christians do agree, and are united as 
members of the aforesaid mystical Body of Christ, 
the Church : which is therefore called the " common 
faith 1 :" it is "that faith which was once given to," or 
rather by, " the saints v ," the holy Apostles of our Lord. 

He discerns not this Body of the Lord, who un- 
derstands not the principles of his religion, which are 
summed up in the vow or covenant which every per- 
son, rightly christened, hath made with God in his 
Baptism. The positive parts whereof (besides the 
negative) are, 1, The Apostles' Creed; 2, The 
Ten Commandments, with what is implied therein, 
and depends thereupon ; 3, viz., The Lord's Prayer, 
and 4, The Doctrine of the Sacraments. Not to know 
these general heads of religion, which be plainly and 

t Rom. xii. 5 j 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13. u Tit. i. 4. v Jude 3. 
® — @ 



® ; — ® 

222 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

fully delivered in the Church Catechism ; or, having 
learned them by heart when children, not frequently 
to remember, and consider them when come to age, 
so as to understand and hold them fast as the essentials 
of Christianity, is the second general kind of unwor- 
thiness of the Lord's Supper, from whence all igno- 
rant and careless, foolish and sottish persons are ex- 
cluded vv , with all such as hold not fast " the first prin- 
ciples of the oracles of God\" 

3. The Sacramental Body of Christ, is the con- 
secrated elements of Bread and Wine in the Sacra- 
ment. This is expressly affirmed by our Lord, saying, 
" This is My Body, This is My Blood." Who then 
dare say, (as the Fathers frequently observe,) This is 
not His Body, but a figure of His Body only ? 

He discerns not this Body of our Lord, 1, who 
sees not with the eye of faith, Christ really present, 
under the species of Bread and Wine, though he con- 
ceive not the manner thereof: who doth not with all 
grateful acknowledgment and divine love, and with 
the greatest humility and devotion, adore the infinite 
wisdom, power, mercy, goodness, and condescension 
of this Presence of our Lord ; not curiously ques- 
tioning, much less pragmatically defining the way 
and manner of His Presence, as being deeply mys- 
terious and inconceivable. 

Those old verses expressing the faith of the wisest 
of our first Reformers, may satisfy every modest, 

w Jer. xxiv. 7 ; Heb. viii. 11. x Heb. v. 12. 
® _____ . ® 



® — ® 

CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMUNION. 223 

humble, and sober-minded good Christian in this 
great mystery of godliness : 

It was the Lord that spake it, 
He took the Bread and brake it; 
And what the Word did make it, 
So Ibelieve and take it. 

2. He discerns not this Sacramental Body of the 
Lord, who knows not in some measure the nature, 
ends, uses, and benefits of this Sacrament, with what 
is required of them that come thereunto : all which 
being plainly, fully, and yet very briefly taught in our 
Church Catechism, to be therefore ignorant of these 
things, which every child is bound to learn and say, 
is another species of an unworthy communicant. 

3. He discerns not this Sacramental Body of the 
Lord, who prepares not himself to receive the same 
with " all reverence and godly fear 7 ;" with " hands 
washed in innocency 2 ;" and into a " pure and clear 
heart a ;" into a soul " cleansed from all filthiness both 
of flesh and spirit b ;" and perfumed (as was our Lord's 
crucified Body) with the sweet odours of humility 
and compunction, of love and devotion, of obedience 
and charity. 

And hereunto all the parts and kinds of true re- 
pentance do necessarily concur : for there can be no 
cleanness of hands, no purity of heart, if the naturally 
stiff and proud heart be not first humbled, and its stiff- 
ness broken with godly sorrow for sin, and its filthi- 



y Heb. xii. 28. z Psalm xxvi. 6. 

a Isa. i. 16 j Psalm xxiv, 4, b 2 Cor. vii. 1. 



"® 



© ® 

224 TWO GENERAL DUTIES, [PART II. 

ness washed off with the devout tears of true peni- 
tence, through faith in the Blood of Christ. 

And he that receives Christ's holy Body and Blood 
into his soul, not first emptied of all his sins by holy 
faith, and all the sacred offices of true repentance, 
doth, with Judas, betray his Master into the hands of 
His enemies, even those very enemies which crucified 
Him : for those were our sins. And therefore it is 
said of such unworthy receivers, that " they are guilty 
of the Body and Blood of Christ." 

To avoid such a horrid sin c , and damnation fol- 
lowing the same d , betwixt both verses it is command- 
ed 6 , " let a man examine himself, and so let him 
eat," &c. 

Self-examination, as it is in the former leaves pre- 
scribed to be practised, is the first and the greatest 
duty, and requires the most of spiritual labour, care, 
and industry, of all that is required to the worthy re- 
ceiving of the Holy Communion. And this because 
it is not only necessary in itself, but necessarily con- 
ducing to the sincere performance of all the other 
religious duties commanded. Our repentance in all 
its parts, our humiliation and godly sorrow for sin, 
our holy purposes and resolves of amendment, our 
faith, our hope, our charity, must be examined, that 
they be sincere, and without hypocrisy. And there- 
fore it is that this duty is commanded by the Apostle, 
as if it were alone sufficient, when sincerely perform- 
ed, to make us acceptable guests at the Lord's Table, 

c 1 Cor. xi. 27. d Ver. 29. e Ver. 28. 

® — — ® 



®. . $ 

CHAP. I.] IN ORDER TO THE COMMUNION. 225 

saying, " Let a man examine himself, and so let him 
eat." &,c. 

And indeed, this so great, so necessary a duty, is 
as greatly extolled, and withal pretended unto by 
most men, especially such as talk much of their reli- 
gion, but practise little. It is generally the pretence 
and the plea of such who cry up self-examination, to 
cry down the sacerdotal power and function, to with- 
draw themselves from under the guidance and exam- 
ination of their respective Pastors, whose instructions 
being not received or observed, but so far forth as to 
every man seemeth good in his own eyes, is the great 
reason why this grand duty is so generally neglected, 
or negligently performed. The which is manifest, 

1. From the numerous company of those who 
make no conscience of coming to the Holy Com- 
munion, when invited. It is not possible that men, 
otherwise prudent as to their worldly concerns, should 
yet be so sottish, so reckless, so stupidly careless of 
their eternal health and happiness, did they ever seri- 
ously examine and consider the state and condition of 
their souls. But whilst they know not themselves in 
their spiritual wants, weakness, and wickedness, how 
can they have any desire, much less a delight, to 
come to the Fountain of mercy, truth, and holiness' ? 
It is the reason, 

2. Why many persons, having received the Sacra- 
ment, but feeling no virtue, no efficacy, no power of 
grace, no consolation flowing from these celestial 

f Wisd. ii. 21, 22 j Matt. v. 6. 

15 

® © 



® — -_ — — ® 

226 TWO GENERAL DUTIES ^ ETC. [PART II. 

mysteries of salvation, have therefore afterwards 
slighted and neglected the same. For whilst their 
ignorances and errors, whether in opinion or practice, 
for want of due examination, appeared not unto them ; 
that Sun of Righteousness shined not into their hearts, 
Who appears not but through the openings of broken 
hearts and consciences displayed 5 . And besides, 
such is the corrupt nature of all sinfulness and vice, 
that if the leaven thereof be not narrowly searched 
out, and ^abandoned, it will sour the Bread of life, and 
make it without any taste of sweetness to the soul h . 
It is the reason, 

3. Why many persons have, by the receiving of 
that blessed Sacrament, been more hardened in their 
sins, and in the errors of their ways. For errors in 
judgment, and offences in conversation, which are the 
sores and diseases of the soul, being not searched to 
the bottom, and salved by " repentance to the ac- 
knowledgment of the truth 1 ," do change the spiritual 
food and nourishment of the soul, into the poison 
thereof, whereby what was " ordained unto life, is 
found unto death 1 '." 

g Wisd. v. 6. h 1 Cor. v. 7, 8. i 2 Tim. ii. 25. k Rom. viL 10. 




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CHAPTER II. 



MEDITATIONS 



TD PRAYERS PREPARATORY TO THE HOLY COM- 
MJTSION, THE WEEK SEEORE. 



The truly sincere good Christian, whose faith 
is not in fancy, or opinion, or presumption, or con- 
sisting in word and tongue alone, but in deed and in 
truth, who desires truly to serve God, and to honour 
and obey Him with his whole heart, and through his 
whole life; every such qualified Christian will, as 
soon as he hath notice given by his Pastor, of the 
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be administered, 
seriously apply himself to the great work of fitting, 
preparing, and ordering his soul for the joyful and 
devout entertainment of his blessed Redeemer there- 
into. 

In order to such a blessed work, it will be very 
useful and advantageous, the whole week foregoing, to 
add to your daily prayers and meditations these (or the 
like) following Collects, with the Psalms ensuing. 

... I. 

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who of Thy 
tender mercy didst give Thine only Son Jesus Christ 



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228 MEDITATIONS, ETC., THE WEEK [PART II. 

to suffer death upon the cross, for our redemption, 
and hast commanded us to continue a perpetual 
memory of that His precious death until His coming 
again ; hear me, O merciful Father, I most humbly 
beseech Thee, and grant that I may with that right 
understanding, true faith, sincere repentance, deep 
humility, and fervent charity, receive the Sacrament 
of my dear Saviour's death, according to His institu- 
tion and command; that I may be made partaker of 
all the benefits of His passion, to the justification, 
sanctification, and eternal salvation, of my soul, 
through the same Jesus Christ, &c. 

II. 

I will not presume to approach Thine Altar, O 
Lord, trusting in mine own righteousness, but in Thy 
manifold and great mercies. I am not worthy to 
gather up the crumbs that fall from Thy table ; for I 
am an unclean creature, to whom the children's bread 
belongs not, having too often returned to my old sins, 
as the dog to his vomit. But whither, blessed Lord, 
whither should a defiled soul go to be cleansed, but 
unto that Fountain which is opened in the House of 
Israel, for sin and for uncleanness? In this inex- 
haustible Fountain of Divine grace, my sinful soul 
longs to be washed, and through the effusion of the 
precious Blood of my Redeemer to be purified ; and 
my whole self, for the future, to be sincerely devoted 
to serve Thee, in holiness and righteousness before 
Thee all the days of my life. Amen. 

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CHAP. II.] BEFORE THE SACRAMENT. 229 



HI, 

Assist me, blessed Lord, in the trial and impartial 
examination of my heart, and of all the actions of 
my life : in the full confession of all my sins, with the 
tears of true penitence and godly sorrow for them ; 
in my prayers for mercy and pardon of them, and 
for grace to be sanctified against them. O hear in 
Heaven, and be merciful unto me ; forgive me my 
sins, and heal my soul through the merits and media- 
tion of my dearest Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 



A SHORT PREPARATORY MEDITATION TO THE SACRAMENT, 
OUT OF ST. AMBROSE. 

O with what great contrition of heart, with what 
a flood of tears, with what reverence, fear, and trem- 
bling, with what purity of mind, and chastity of body, 
is that divine, celestial mystery to be celebrated, where 
Thy flesh, O Lord, is truly received, and Thy blood is 
truly drunk ! where things most high and low, Divine 
and human, are mysteriously intermingled ! where the 
Angels of Heaven are invisibly present, beholding 
and assisting in the celebration ! and where Thou, O 
Lord, art inconceivably present, both as the Priest and 
the Sacrifice ! O who can worthily either administer 
or receive such grand, tremendous, celestial mysteries, 
except Thou, the omnipotent God, make him worthy 
of Thy grace ! Even so come, Lord Jesus. 

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230 MEDITATIONS, ETC., THE WEEK [PART II. 

PSALM XXIII. PARAPHRASED. 

" The Lord," who hath created, redeemed, and 
sanctified me, " is my Shepherd ;" to feed, guide, and 
defend me from the ravening of my ghostly foes : 
" therefore I can lack nothing" that is needful or con- 
venient either for soul or body. And were I an in- 
nocent, meek, humble, obedient, and fruitful sheep of 
the Lord's pasture, I might then say with an holy con- 
fidence, " The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore can I 
lack nothing." 

2. " He shall feed me in a green pasture :" my 
soul doth He feed with the verdant refreshing 
indoctrinations of His holy Word : " and lead me forth 
beside the waters of comfort." Such are the influ- 
ences of the Holy Ghost the Comforter ; and such 
are the Sacraments of His Church, which as waters 
do quench the fire of concupiscence, wash off the 
pollution of sin, cleanse the heart from all vain and 
impure thoughts and desires, satisfy the spiritual 
thirst of the soul, and feed the same to life eternal : 
and these be comforts both great and glorious. 

3. " He shall convert my soul," from the pomps 
and vanities of this wicked world, and from the sinful 
lusts of the flesh, " and bring me forth into the path 
of righteousness," to keep God's holy Will and Com- 
mandments, and to walk in the same all the days of 
my life : and this He will do " for His Name's sake :" 
that His Name, which is Great, Wonderful, and Holy, 
may be glorified in me, and by me. 

4. " Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 

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®_ _ ® 

CHAP. II.] BEFORE THE SACRAMENT. 231 

shadow of death," be conversant amidst continual 
temptations and tribulations, which are the miseries 
of mortality, and the shadows of death in this valley 
of tears, " I will fear no evil :" neither the evil of sin, 
nor death the wages of sin : " for Thou art with me," 
dwelling in my heart by faith in this mortal life, that 
after the shadow of death is vanished, I may dwell 
with Thee by vision in life immortal 1 ; " Thy rod and 
Thy staff comfort me." Thy rod, to correct me ; Thy 
staff, to support me : Thy rod, to punish me when I 
do evil ; Thy staff, to sustain me in my sufferings for 
my sins. Both are great comforts to the devout soul, 
as being signs of adoption and grace, purchased by 
the mystical rod and staff of my Saviour's sufferings 
on His cross of wood. This was the rod of the Lord's 
indignation for our sins, and the rod wherewithal our 
Lord beat the devil out of his strongholds : this was 
the staff also or stay of fallen man ; the merits whereof 
I humbly beg to be applied to my soul, in the Sacra- 
ment of His Passion* For, 

5. "Thou shalt prepare a table before me;" the 
table of the Lord is spread before all true believers, 
where is prepared the Bread of Heaven, the food of 
Angels, the Body and Blood of Christ, for the strength- 
ening and refreshing of my soul, " against them that 
trouble me :" and these are chiefly homebred enemies, 
even all those sinful lusts of the flesh which war against 
the soul. But that I may be prepared for the conflict 
with them, " Thou hast anointed my head with oil." 
The unction of the Holy One, are the graces of the 

i Aug. 
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® — ® 

J 232 MEDITATIONS, ETC. [PART II. 

Holy Spirit, which from Christ the Head do flow 
down upon Its members, in the devout use of His Sa- 
craments : " and my cup shall be full." That Cup of 
blessing which is the Communion of the Blood of 
Christ, is full of grace and Heavenly benediction. 
And this in all humility I call " my cup," because I 
am invited, nay, commanded to take and drink thereof. 
And if I receive it worthily, I may then rejoicing say, 
" The Lord Himself is the portion of mine inheritance, 
and of my cup :" and as it follows, 

6. " Thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow 
me all the days of my life :" it was Thy loving-kind- 
ness and mercy preventing me, whereby I was called 
unto the state of grace and salvation ; and I believe 
and humbly pray that Thy grace may also follow me, 
to continue in the same to my life's end : " and I will 
dwell in the House of the Lord for ever." This is 
the end and the perfection of all the Lord's blessings 
upon me : He is therefore my Shepherd, and doth feed 
and guide me, protect and defend me, correct and sup- 
port me, and with His precious Body and Blood doth 
nourish me in His House of Prayer here below, that I 
may hereafter dwell in His House of Praise above, and 
with His holy Angels and Saints for ever sing, 

Glory be to God the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 

Other Psalms seasonable for meditation, and relating to this 
divine subject in several verses, are the forty-second, forty- 
third, eighty-first, eighty-fourth Psalms ; the which I have 
not paraphrased or explained, that this volume might not 
swell into too great a bulk. 

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CHAPTER III. 

?j:z^:tatioks astd PRATERS FOR THE FRIDAY, especially before 
the cojitMtrNibisr. 

Amongst all the days of the week, Friday is the 
most seasonable and fittest for the performance of 
those religious duties, the which, though never out of 
season, are yet then most practical, when commanded 
as necessary preparatives for the worthy receiving of 
the Sacrament; viz., the grand duty of Self-examina- 
tion, of Confession of Sins, with Contrition, Humilia- 
tion, and Fasting ; as also for Meditations and Prayers 
upon the Passion of our Lord, since it was upon this 
day of the week He was crucified and died for our 
sins. 

2. It is upon this account, that our Church en- 
joins this day to be observed throughout the whole 
year, as a day of fasting and abstinence ; and it was 
ever observed as such, since our Lord died upon the 
Friday, through all the ages of the Church, until 
these last and worst of days, wherein the evil spirit of 
contradiction against the religious practices of 
Christ's Church doth so rage, as, amongst many 



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234 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

others, to cry down all times and days devoted to the 
service of God, except what they call the Sabbath- 
Day : the which, under the Gospel, is neither pro- 
perly so called, nor rightly observed by such as truly 
understand not the fourth Commandment, but mis- 
interpret the sound meaning of the Spirit by the kill- 
ing letter of the Law. 

3. All orthodox and understanding good Chris- 
tians, instead of a Jewish Sabbath, observe as festival 
and holy the Christian Sunday, because the Sun of 
Righteousness arose upon that day from death to life, 
and hath brought life and immortality to light through 
the Gospel ; in which respect it is frequently in Holy 
Scripture called the Lord's Day. 

4. And there is the like reason for the observance 
of Friday, as fasting, in commemoration of Christ's 
Passion, as there is for Sunday, as festival, in com- 
memoration of His Resurrection. Nor is this ob- 
scurely, but plainly enough commanded by our Lord 
Himself: " But the days will come when the Bride- 
groom shall be taken away from them : and then shall 
they fast in those days\" These words are both, 1, 
a positive command to all the disciples of Christ, 
" they shall fast :" and also, 2, the days whereon they 
shall fast are prescribed, " in those days whereon the 
Bridegroom was taken away from them," which are 
the Fridays of the year, whereon our Lord, the Bride- 
groom and Head of His Church, was taken off by a 
bitter death upon the Cross. It is therefore but meet 

k Luke v. 35. 
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CHAP. III.] FOR THE FRIDAY, ETC. 235 

and just, that all true members of«this Head should 
fast, and pray, and be humbled for their sins on that 
day especially, whereon the Son of God so sadly suf- 
fered and sorrowed for the sins of the world. 



FRIDAY MEDITATIONS. 

I. PART OF THE SIXTY-NINTH PSALM PARAPHRASED. 

13. " Lord, I make my prayers unto Thee in an 
acceptable time." Now is the acceptable time, now 
is the day of salvation, even the day whereon for us 
men, and for our salvation, the blessed Son of God 
was crucified unto death. 

14. " Hear me, O God, in the multitude of Thy 
mercies :" against the multitude of my sins, which 
require a multitude of mercies to pardon them : 
" even in the truth of Thy salvation :" which on this 
day was so dearly purchased with the precious Blood 
of the Son of God, as a Lamb without spot. 

15. " Take me out of the mire," of all my sinful 
pollutions, and of all exorbitant lusts, both secular 
and sensual, " that I sink not" under the weight and 
pressure of them. " O let me be delivered from them 
that hate me," meaning chiefly the devil and his 
angels, and all the enemies of my soul, " and out of 
the deep waters," the rising waves of my unruly pas- 
sions, and the waters of trouble and affliction which 
issue thence. 

16. " Let not the water-flood" of iniquity, which 

I 

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236 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

overflows the face of the earth, " drown me," with 
the rest of evil doers, " neither let the deep swallow 
me up :" the deep abyss of death, the wages of sin : 
" and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me," so 
that I arise not out of the gulf of sin and death, to 
the life of grace and glory. 

17. " Hear me, O Lord, for Thy loving-kindness 
is comfortable :" it is the spring and fountain, life 
and soul of all consolation, at all times, and in all 
conditions, both prosperous and adverse : " turn Thee 
unto me," not for any worth that is in me to attract 
Thy loving-kindness, but " according to the multi- 
tude of Thy mercies," which are ever manifested to 
all them who truly turn unto Thee. 

18. " Hide not Thy face from Thy servant ;" as 
angry and displeased for the alienations of my heart 
from Thee, and negligence in thy service ; " for I 
am in trouble :" troubled for my sins, and frequent 
backslidings ; and " the sacrifice of God is a troubled 
spirit ; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou w T ilt 
not despise : O haste Thee, and hear me." For if 
Thou make as though Thou hearest not, I shall be 
like them that go down into the pit. 

19. " Draw nigh unto my soul, and save it ;" 
Who for the salvation of my soul didst this day hum- 
ble Thyself unto death, even the cursed death of the 
Cross : by the merits and efficacy of which Cross and 
Passion, " O deliver me" from all mine offences, 
" because of mine enemies," that they triumph not 
in my confusion. 

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CHAP. III.] FOR THE FRIDAY, ETC. 237 

II. MEDITATIONS OUT OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 
Chap. liii. 4 — 6. 

" Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried 
our sorrows : yet we did esteem Him stricken, smit- 
ten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for 
our transgressions, He w T as bruised for our iniquities : 
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and 
with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep 
have gone astray ; we have turned every one to his 
own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniqui- 
ty of us all." 

In the sufferings of Thy Saviour, O my soul, thou 
rnayest see as in a glass thine own deformities and 
sins. 

The great Lord over all, blessed for ever, to be 
reproached, reviled, scorned, contemned, and " num- 
bered amongst the transgressors," discovers thy false 
and uncharitable judging, censuring, condemning, 
evil-speaking, lying, and slandering, railing, and re- 
viling of others, 

The blessed face of Jesus " besmeared with spit- 
tle," doth remember thee of all thy unclean lusts, and 
of all the filthy communication that has proceeded 
out of thy mouth. 

His blessed mouth " embittered with gall and 
vinegar," doth mind thee of thy effeminacy and lux- 
ury, drunkenness and gluttony ; and His whipping, 
of thy stubbornness, and disobedience to the laws of 
Heaven. 

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1 

238 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

The King of Glory to wear " a crown of thorns," 
and for His robes of Majesty only a little linen to 
cover His nakedness, declares the iniquity of thy 
pride and vain-glory, the folly of gay clothing, and all 
thy vain and foolish affectation of the pomps and vani- 
ties of this sinful world. 

That Crown of Thorns " beaten into His Tem- 
ples with a reed," and much rage, discovers the offen- 
sive nature of immoderate cares of the world, with 
the sharp and piercing vexations issuing thence, 
which eat up the consolation of the heart, and all 
true, sincere devotion of the spirit. 

His Arms stretched out upon the cross, to receive 
and embrace all who come unto Him by faith and re- 
pentance, discovers and reproaches thy immoderate 
anger, hatred, malice ; which is also further manifest- 
ed and reproved, by His prayer to His Father, for 
those very enemies who crucified Him. 

His Eyes flowing with tears, more for thy sins 
than His own sufferings, declare the pride and lofti- 
ness, the looseness and wandering of thine eyes to be- 
hold vanity. 

His Ears, hearing with all sweetness of patience 
the many reproaches, revilings, false accusations 
against Him, declare the guilt of thy impatience upon 
any light affront, or evil word, not enduring the least 
disgrace, and yet extremely deserving the same. 

His Heart transfixed with a spear, was opened to 
the view of every devout soul, which discovers thy 
avaricious closeness, and hardness of heart to the 

i 

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® <§) 

CHAP. III.] FOR THE FRIDAY, ETC. 239 

indigencies and necessities of thy Christian neigh- 
bours. 

O sweetest Jesu, let all my sins be done away 
through Thy sufferings, which did both represent 
and satisfy for them. Let thy wounds be a salve for 
my sin-wounded soul ; and by Thy stripes be heal- 
ed of all her distempers. Let Thy bonds discharge 
that bond of malediction and wo wherein my sins 
have enwrapt my soul ; and let my obligation to pun- 
ishment be cancelled by Thy Cross. Let Thy pains 
deliver me from the pains of hell ; and Thy labours 
procure my rest with the Saints in Heaven. Let Thy 
sorrows purchase the joys, and Thy griefs the plea- 
sures of Thy right hand. Let Thy captivity be my 
redemption, Thy humiliation my exaltation, Thy 
Cross my crown, and Thy death life for ever. 

" God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is cru- 
cified unto me, and I unto the world 1 ." 

III. MEDITATIONS OUT OF THE PROPHET JEREMY. 

" Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by ? behold 
and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, 
which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath af- 
flicted me in the day of His fierce anger" 1 .' ' " O that 
my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of 
tears, that I may weep day and night for the"" suffer- 
ings of my Saviour. 

Shall I not weep for Him who both wept and bled 

1 Gal. vi. 14. m Lam. i. 12. n Jer. ix. 1. 
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(5) - <§) 

240 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

for me, yea, wept out every drop of His most Pre- 
cious Blood, to deliver me from weeping and wailing 
and gnashing of teeth for ever I 

In the natural body, if one member suffer, all 
suffer with it : and it is thus in the Body Mystical 
also. If I be a lively member of Christ, His afflic- 
tions will afflict and pierce my heart ; His Passion 
will excite both compassion and compunction in my 
soul, so as to bewail not my Saviour only, but myself, 
and my sins also : to bewail myself, and the hardness 
of my heart, that I cannot even with a flood of tears 
bewail my Saviour in His sufferings, nor yet sufficient- 
ly lament and abhor my sins, the causes thereof. 

Upon the Passion of our Lord the veil of the Tem- 
ple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom. 
That Temple mystically represents the heart of man, 
which signifies, by its triangular form, that it is 
framed to be a Temple consecrated to the thrice- 
blessed Trinity. But, wo and alas, my heart is hard- 
er than the stones of that material Temple, and re- 
ceives not any deep impressions of that honour and 
happiness whereunto it was created. Yet if any thing 
will mollify its stiffness, it must be the Precious Blood 
of my dear Redeemer, which was for this very end 
shed upon the Cross. There He bled, whilst He had 
one drop to shed ; and there, together with His Pre- 
cious Blood, He poured forth His righteous soul, with 
strong cryings and tears, to melt the stony hearts of 
the sons of men into tears of penitence and devotion, 
of divine love and obedience. 

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® — — ® 

CHAP. III.] FOR THE FRIDAY, ETC. 241 

The gaping wounds of my dear Lord, are as so 
many mouths opened to show forth the bowels of 
His compassion: and through the hollow of His pierced 
side, may the devout soul behold, with the eye of faith, 
His broken heart panting for the redemption of the 
world, and flaming with the love of man> and dying 
for love. 

senseless, ingrateful soul, who art not wounded 
with the wounds of thy Saviour ! who art not thorough- 
ly pierced with the dart of His love, Who was pierced 
to the heart for the love of thee ! whose mouth is not 
continually opened in the praise of Him, all Whose 
wounds were as so many mouths praising the Lord for 
thy redemption. 

1 am surely bound, deeply engaged to love, to hon- 
our, to obey, and wholly to live unto Him, Who died 
for me ; even to give up myself, my whole self, all that 
I am, and all that I have, to His service, Who save 
up His whole self, every member of His Body, every 
power of His soul, every drop of His Blood, a Sacri- 
fice for my sins. 

" And the very God of peace sanctify me" wholly 
to His service : and I pray God " my whole spirit, 
and soul and body, may be preserved blameless unto 
the comingr f our Lord Jesus Christ. u Amen. 




16 

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CHAPTER IV. 



ST. AUGUSTINE'S RECOMMENDATION OP THE PASSION OP CHRIST 
UNTO GOD THE PATHER. 

Behold, Holy Father, Thy Blessed Son suffering 
for me great and grievous things. Regard, most 
Glorious King, Who it was that suffered, and remem- 
ber in mercy for whom He suffered. Is not this He, 
(my Lord,) even that innocent One, Whom to redeem 
a servant Thou offeredst up, being a Son ? Is not 
this He, even that Author and Giver of life, Who 
was led as an innocent lamb to the slaughter, and be- 
came obedient unto Thee, even unto death, and feared 
not to undergo the most bitter of all deaths ? Is not 
this He, whom Thou (the Dispenser of all salvation) 
didst beget from all eternity, but in fulness of time 
wouldst have Him partaker of my infirmity ? This 
is truly Thy Deity, Who hath put on my mortality, 
Who was lifted up on the cross, and in my flesh suf- 
fered that sad punishment of a cursed death. Look 
back (O Lord my God) with the eyes of thy Majesty 
upon this unspeakable work of mercy. Behold Thy 
sweet Son in all the parts of His Body extended and 



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® <•> 

CHAP. IV.] OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST, ETC. 243 

racked. See His innocent hands flowing with His 
precious Blood ; and pardon, in great mercy, the ini- 
quities which my wicked hands have committed. 
Consider His naked Side pierced with a cruel spear ; 
and renew me in the sacred font, which I believe to 
have issued thence. Behold those immaculate Feet, 
which never stood in the way of sinners, but alway 
walked in the Law of the Lord, cruelly bored and 
transfixed with nails : remove far from me the way of 
iniquity, and make me to choose the way of truth, 
to hate and decline the ways of the ungodly, and to 
walk in the paths of thy Commandments. " O hold 
Thou up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps 
slip not." 

I beseech Thee, O King of Saints, by Him who is 
the Chief of Saints, my blessed Redeemer, make me 
to run the way of thy Commandments ; that I may 
be united unto Him, Who abhorred not to be clothed 
with my flesh. Behold, most merciful Creator, the 
humanity of Thy beloved Sen, and have mercy upon 
the infirmity of Thy frail creature. His naked Breast 
is white and wan, His pierced Side red and bloody, 
His distorted Bowels wither, His splendid Eyes do 
languish, His majestic Countenance is pale, His prc- 
cerous Arms are stifT and ccld, His marble Thighs 
hang down, whilst His precious Blood, like water, 
bedews His feet. 

Behold the punishment of God made Man, and 
relax the misery of created man : consider the suffer- 
ings of the Redeemer, and forgive the sins cf the re- 

<•> — — <•> 



<•>- 



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244 st. Augustine's recommendation, [part ii. 

deemed. This is He, (my Lord,) Whom Thou hast 
stricken for the sins of Thy people ; although He be 
" Thy beloved Son, in Whom Thou art well pleased." 
This is He, Who " knew no ski," neither was any 
" guile found in His mouth ;" and yet He was " num- 
bered amongst the transgressors," and " bore the sins 
of many." 




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CHAPTER V. 



ST. AMBROSE S COMMEMORATION OE OUR SAVIOUR S PASSION. 



O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, 
the Creator and Redeemer of all mankind ; we give 
Thee thanks, unworthy though they be, yet desire they 
may be devout and acceptable to Thee, Who for us 
miserable sinners earnest down from Heaven, and took- 
est flesh of the blessed Virgin Mary : of her Thou 
vouchsafedst to be born ; to be wrapt in swaddling- 
clothes, and laid in a manger ; to suck the breasts ; to 
be circumcised in Thy tender flesh ; to be manifested to 
the wise men, and adored by them ; to be presented in 
the Temple ; to be carried into Egypt ; to return into 
Thy country ; to be subject to Thy parents ; to be bap- 
tized by John ; to be afflicted with a forty days fast ; 
and thrice to be tempted of the devil ; to be wearied 
with journeys, and macerated by hunger and thirst 
and watchings ; to be tired with preaching ; to weep 
for compassion ; to be rejected of the Jews, and fre- 
quently abused by them. 

Thy Passion approaching, Thou vouchsafedst to 
be heavy and exceeding sorrowful ; to pray, not only 
with bended knees, but thrice to fall upon Thy face, 
to be in a bitter agony, and to sweat drops of blood ; 
to be betrayed by Judas with a deceitful kiss ; to be 
apprehended by the Jews, and bound as a thief; to be 



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®— — — ® 

246 st. Ambrose's commemoration [part ii. 

left desolate and alone, for all Thy disciples forsook 
Thee and fled. 

To be led to Annas the high-priest first, and 
there to be buffeted ; to be sent by him bound to 
Caiaphas, and there to be many ways derided ; to be 
brought before the Council of the Jews, and there to 
be falsely accused and condemned ; to have Thy face 
polluted with spittings, to be provoked by manifold 
reproaches ; to be scorned, and blasphemed, and 
again smitten on the face and buffeted ; to be de- 
livered bound unto Pilate, and before him vehemently 
accused unto death, and by him to be sent unto 
Herod, and there to be calumniated, and set at 
nought by him and his men of war ; to be arrayed in 
white, and sent back unto Pilate; by his command 
to be bound to a pillar, and cruelly scourged unto 
blood ; to be by him condemned, and delivered up to 
the soldiers to be crucified : by whom Thou wast 
mocked with a purple garment, and pierced with a 
crown of thorns, derided with a reed, instead of a 
regal sceptre, and, with bowing of knees, named in 
contempt, " The King of the Jews ;" again the third 
time bespattered with spittle, and buffeted, and 
beaten with a reed on Thy head ; laden with the 
weight of Thy Cross, and led away to the place of 
Thy Passion ; there again stripped naked of Thy gar- 
ments, and proffered to drink gall mingled with 
myrrh. 

At last Thou wast extended on the cross, Thy 
hands and feet transfixed with nails, crucified amongst 

® ® 



® — — ® 

CHAP. V.] OF OUR SAVIOUR'S PASSION. 247 

thieves, numbered amongst transgressors, blasphemed 
both by them that stood by, and by them that passed 
by ; and in the extremity of Thy sufferings criedst 
out, " My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken 
Me ?'' Thy head bowed down. Thou didst give up 
the ghost ; and Thy side was pierced by a soldier, 
whence issued both water and blood. Taken down 
from the cross, and buried by Joseph, the third day 
Thou didst rise again, and appear to Thy disciples. 
The fortieth day Thou ascendedst into Heaven ; and 
sitting on the right hand of God the Father, Thou 
didst send down the promise of the Holy Ghost upon 
Thy blessed Apostles and Disciples : and shalt come 
again to judgment, to render to all men according to 
their works done in the body, whether they be good, 
or whether they be evil. 

O blessed Lord Jesus, by all these Thy most 
sacred sufferings, by Thy bitter Death and most pre- 
cious Blood shed for us, and by all things foretold of 
Thee and fulfilled by Thee, vouchsafe in great mercy 
to deliver me, a sordid sinner, with all my friends 
and enemies, parents, brothers, sisters, all that are 
poor and desolate, tempted and afflicted, bound and 
imprisoned, with all Christian people. From all our 
tribulations and distresses, from the snares of the 
devil, from the bonds and chains of our sins, and from 
all evils both of soul and body, good Lord, deliver^ 
save, and defend us. 

All our imaginations and actions vouchsafe so to 
dispose and order, that they may be acceptable unto 

§ — — — — ® 



©- 



-<§> 



248 st. Ambrose's commemoration, etc. [part ii. 

Thee ; fill us with Thy grace, and with holy peace, 
and with all virtue ; and grant us herein to persevere 
even unto death : that making a good end of this pre- 
sent life, Thou mayest bring us to eternal life in Thy 
Celestial Kingdom, where Thou Jivest and reignest. 




©- 



'® 



® <•> 




CHAPTER VI. 

ST. GREGORY'S PRAYERS UPON THE PASSION OF CHRISTY 
I. 

I adore Thee, holy Lord Jesus, hanging upon 
the Cross, and bearing on Thy venerable Head a 
crown of thorns ; and I humbly beg, by Thy Cross, 
to be delivered from the destroying angel. 

II. 

I adore Thee, holy Lord Jesus Christ, expanded 
on the Cross, with five great wounds in Thy nailed 
hands and feet, and pierced side : and I humbly beg, 
that Thy dire and ghastly wounds may be a healing 
remedy to my sin-sick soul. 

III. 

I adore Thee, holy Lord Jesus, panting under the 
sad weight of the sins of the world : and I humbly 
beg, by that inconceivable bitterness of sorrow, Thy 
innocent soul suffered in that moment when it left 
the body, have mercy upon my soul in the moment 
of her departure hence. 

® ■ — ® 



©- 



-® 



250 



st. Gregory's prayers, etc, [part ii. 



IV. 



I adore Thee, holy Lord Jesus, laid in the sepul- 
chre, and anointed with myrrh and aloes ; and I 
humbly beg, that Thy death may be the life of my 
soul. 



O save, holy Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Who 
laid down His life for His sheep, save and preserve 
the righteous, call home the wicked, justify the peni- 
tent, have mercy upon all true believers, and upon 
me a miserable sinner. Amen. 




-® 



<5> ® 




CHAPTER VII. 

THE FORM OP PRATER USED BY OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS, VIZ., THE 
TWENTY-SECOND PSAJLM PARAPHRASED. 

" My God, My God," so prayed my dear Re- 
deemer hanging upon the Cross ; the gemination of 
His words expressing both the great devotion, and al- 
so the bitter anguish of His soul ; " look upon me;" 
imploring Divine commiseration and assistance in the 
sufferings of His human nature. ' ' Why hast Thou for- 
saken Me 1" that is the height of sorrow and suffering, 
to be therein forsaken, as if the personal union of His 
divine and human nature were dissolved ; " and art so 
far from My health," not affording the least mitiga- 
tion of My tormenting pains, or consolation therein, 
" and from the words of My complaint ?" or, the voice 
of My roaring 1 for, " with strong crying and tears, I 
offer up My prayers and supplications' 1 ." 

2. " O My God," I will never cease to call Thee 
so, though now Thine indignation for the sins of the 
world lieth heavy upon Me, so that though " I cry in 
the day-time," in the which I suffer the torments of 
crucifixion," " yet Thou hearest Me not :" so as to de- 

n Heb. v. 7. 
<•> ~ ® 



©_ — ® 

252 THE FORM OF PRAYER USED BY [PART II. 

liver Me from them ; " and in the night-season also," 
when I was in a bitter agony, sweating drops of blood 
under the pressure of the sins of men, and Thy wrath 
for them, in both seasons and sad sufferings " I take 
no rest,' 7 no ease of My soul's sorrows, no cessation 
of My bodily torments. 

3. " And Thou continuest holy/' just and faithful 
in all Thy promises of mercy to the miserable ; or, 
" Thou dwellest in thy Holy One," in this Holy and 
Innocent Body of Mine, though nailed to the Cross. 
So we read, "God was in Christ reconciling the 
world ." " O Thou worship of Israel," Who hast so 
often delivered Thy people, and been made both the 
subject-matter of their devout prayers and praises, 
and only object of their divine adoration and wor- 
ship. 

4. " Our Fathers" after the flesh, the Patriarchs 
and Prophets of old, " hoped in Thee;" and when 
they did so, when sincerely and without hypocrisy 
" they trusted in Thee, and Thou didst deliver them," 
as from the Egyptian bondage, and Babylonian captiv- 
ity, and from all their enemies on every side ; figur- 
ing thereby the great deliverance and redemption of 
mankind by My present sufferings for their sins. 

5. " They called upon Thee," as the only anchor 
of their hope amidst the raging waves of worldly trib- 
ulations, " and were holpen :" either supported in 
their distresses, or delivered from them ; " they put 
their trust in Thee, and were not confounded," or 

o 2 Cor. v. 19. 
<S) , * ® 



® @ 

CHAP. VII.] OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS. 253 

frustrated in their expectation of a sure and seasona- 
ble succour and defence. 

6» " But as for me," Who now call upon Thee in 
distress, " I am a worm," framed of the dung-hill na- 
ture of Adam by the supernatural operation of the 
Holy Ghost upon My Virgin mother, without any car- 
nal lust or copulation; as the worm hath its being out 
of the dung of the earth, without any mutual coition, 
by the sole heat of the sun ; " and no man," not made 
man after the same manner with others; and as a 
worm that is trodden on and despised, so am I " a 
very scorn of men," who have spit upon Me, reviled, 
reproached, derided, whipped, buffeted, and in all re* 
spects used Me as " the outcasts of the people," who 
have judged Me more unfit to live than Bar abbas, a 
thief, a rebel, and a murderer. 

7. " All they that see Me, laugh Me to scorn : they 
shoot out their lips, and shake their heads ;" so we 
read, " And they that passed by reviled Him, wag- 
ging their heads, saying, He saved others, Himself He 
cannot save p :" saying, in derision, 

8 " He trusted in God, that He w T ould deliver 
Him ; let Him deliver Him, if He will have Him." 
So saith the sad story of our Saviour's suffering^ 
Thus have they rewarded Me evil for good, and ha- 
tred for My good will ; but though I be thus evil in- 
treated by sinful men, yet Thou, Lord, 

9. " Thou art He, that took Me out of my mo- 
ther's womb ;" it was by Thee alone, (for none but a 

p Matt, xxvii. 39, 42. q Matt, xxvii. 43. 
® ~ — ® 



®~ -® 

254 THE FORM OF PRAYER USED BY [PART II. 

supernatural divine power could effect it,) that I was 
both made man, and born of a woman : " Thou wast 
my hope when I hanged yet upon My mother's breast, 55 
My refuge, My support in My infancy as Man, Who 
art My Father from all eternity as God. 

10. " I have been left unto Thee ever since I was 
born :" My human nature being united unto the 
Person of the Son of God from the first moment of 
My conception : " Thou art My God even from My 
mother's womb/' when 1 was conceived without any 
other Father, but Thy power sanctifying the virgin- 
womb of My mother ; and have ever since lived, and 
am now ready to die, in obedience to Thy most holy 
will. 

11. " O go not from Me, 55 by withdrawing Thy 
divine assistance, a for trouble is hard at hand : 55 the 
inveterate malice of my persecuting enemies, and My 
tormenting pains, bespeak My near approaching 
death : " and there is none to help Me, 55 in that bitter 
agony, besides Thee, O Lord, for vain is the help of 
man : and the nearest of My friends and followers, 
have also now forsaken Me and fled : in whose 
room 

12. " Many oxen are come about Me,' 5 people 
who have cast off the yoke of obedience to God 5 s most 
holy laws, being luxuriant in their opinions, and 
licentious in their conversation : by such I was ap- 
prehended, hurried away, hooted at, and reviled, 
falsely accused, and cried down by their loud cla- 
mours against Me; " fat bulls of Bashan, 55 the high- 

(5, © 



® ® 

CHAP. VII.] OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS. 255 

priests, rich and fat men of the world, swollen with 
their pomp and wealth, armed with power like unto 
horned bulls, u close me in on every side." By their 
counsels and conspiracies, votes and suffrages, they 
have so enfettered Me, that there was no way left to 
escape their rage and malice. 

13. "They gape upon Me with their mouths," 
some falsely accusing, some ironically deriding, some 
maliciously reproaching, some unjustly censuring 
and condemning Me, and all crying out, Crucify Him, 
Crucify Him ; "as it were a ramping and a roaring 
lion," greedily and fiercely yelling over his prey, so 
eagerly do they thirst after My Blood, and that now 
is in their power ; for 

14. " I am poured out like water :" so is My 
Blood poured out of all My veins, flowing from My 
scourged back and breasts, nailed hands and feet, 
pierced side, and from My head crowned with thorns, 
which eat into My temples. 

And may this precious Blood, like water, wash 
off the pollutions of my soul, soften the hardness, 
moisten the dryness, and make fertile the barren 
ground of my heart, to be capable of the great bene- 
fits my dear Redeemer purchased with His Blood : 
" all My bones are out of joint;" through the violent 
distention of My members on the Cross ; and yet far 
greater are the sufferings of My soul, for " My heart 
also in the midst of My body is even like melting 
wax," even molten in the fiery furnace of God's 
wrath for the sins of the world, Whose indignation 

® ® 



® _— ® 

256 THE FORM OF PRAYER USED BY [PART II. 

like fire consumes and eats up all consolation within 
Me. 

15. " My strength is dried up like a potsherd," 
that radical humour which supplies the strength of the 
body, is exhausted through the effusion of My Blood, 
and dislocation of My bodily members, " and My 
tongue cleaveth to my gums," through the drought, 
pain, and weakness of My tortured Body : " and 
Thou shalt bring Me into the dust of death." By 
My death and burial in the dust of the earth, My 
sufferings will be completed. And this cannot be 
avoided. 

16. " For many dogs," persons who bark and 
rail, not out of conscience or love of the truth, but 
out of malice and destructive designs ; such " are 
Come about Me :" they encompass Me, to rend and 
tear in pieces both My good Name, liberty, and life 
itself: " the council of the wicked layeth siege 
against Me." So we read, " the chief-priests and 
elders took counsel against Jesus, to put Him to 
death":" and this both shameful and painful : for 

17. " They pierced My hands and My feet :" 
through the palms of My hands, and the plants of My 
feet, places fullest of nerves, and most capable of 
sense, have they nailed Me to the Cross; but first 
with the greatest violence, and to the utmost extent, 
My arms and legs were expanded, so that " I may- 
tell all My bones :" for they start through My flesh, 
through the violent distention thereof; and this to 



r Matt, xxvii. 1. 



©- 



4 



_ , © 

CHAP. VII.] OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS. 257 

the great astonishment of all that behold My tor- 
ments : for " they stand staring and looking upon 
Me." The tormenting punishment renders me so 
misshapen, distorted, and deformed, as makes all the 
spectators gaze and wonder. But it is more with 
bodily than spiritual eyes : they see not, neither do 
they understand me aright, though I thus suffer for 
their sins. 

18. " They part My garments among them, and 
cast lots upon My vesture." So did the soldiers 
with the garment of our Lord's natural Body; and 
so do heretics and schismatics with His mystical 
Body the Church. 

19. " But be not Thou far from me, O Lord," 
so as to leave Me altogether destitute of consolation 
in my present distresses : nor yet to leave Me buried 
in the grave to see corruption with other men, and 
not to rise again till the general resurrection : 
" Thou art My succour," it is Thy promise of suc- 
cour I rely upon; " haste Thee to help Me," finish- 
ing My suffering by death, and the redemption of the 
world by My resurrection from death to life. 

20. " Deliver My soul from the sword," from 
that death which by the sword and violence of wicked 
men is inflicted : " and My darling," or " dear and 
only One" — such was the soul of Christ, dear, be- 
cause innocent and free from sin ; and the only One, 
that is, absolutely so ; such is the Church of Christ, 
dear unto Him, without spot, and only One, as uni- 
ted in its members — " from the power of the dog," 

17 

®- — — § 



® ® 

258 THE FORM OF PRAYER USED BY [PART II. 

from such who without reason bark and devour 8 :, or, 
from the power of hell, which greedily devours like a 
dog all that descend into it 1 . 

21. " Save Me from the lion's mouth," out of the 
jaws of the devil, which are open ever to swallow up 
all departing souls into death eternal. But by Thy 
assistance I shall overcome the tyrant, and swallow 
up death in victory. " Thou hast heard Me also," an- 
swered My prayers by Thy deliverance of Me " from 
among the horns of the unicorns," such as lifted up 
the horn of pride and fierceness against Me, and ex- 
tolled themselves' 1 as if there were none like them. 

" And thus far," saith Cassiodore, " Our Lord 
expostulates His sufferings by way of prayer ; the 
fruit of His passion followeth ; which is in general 
the glory of God's Name." 

22. « I will declare Thy Name," Thy Might and 
Thy Majesty, Thy Greatness and Thy Goodness, in 
My Passion and Resurrection, especially manifested 
" unto My brethren," to My Apostles and Disciples, 
and they to others, For " the word was first spoken 
by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that 
heard Him x ;" " in the midst of the congregation will 
I praise Thee," publicly and in the Temple of the 
Lord, where every man speaks of His honour. 

23. " O praise the Lord, ye that fear Him ;" Ye 
that have any respect to the worship of the Lord, lift 
up your voice in the congregation, and both wit4 
priest and people, praise the Lord : " magnify Him, 

s August. t Lyra. u August. x Heb. ii. 3. 
&— 1 



® — ® 

CHAP. VII.] OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS. 259 

all ye of the seed of Jacob, and fear Him, all ye of 
the seed of Israel," even all whom He hath chosen to 
be His people, whether Jews or Gentiles. So they 
are distinguished, " Ye men of Israel, and ye that 
fear God," i. e. from amongst the Gentiles'". To both, 
even to all you it appertains to praise the Lord, for 
the redemption of the World by His Son Jesus Christ : 
Who although He was despicable in the eyes of men, 
yet is far otherwise in the eyes of the Lord ; for 

24. M He hath not despised nor abhorred the low 
estate of the poor," though born in a poor condition ; 
lived a poor life, more poor yet in His death, being 
stripped naked of all, even to a little linen to cover 
His nakedness; destitute of what the poorest enjoy, 
a burial place, for He was buried in a stranger's sepul- 
chre : yet not despised, but " highly exalted, having 
a Name given above every name, that at the Name of 
Jesus every knee should bow." Nor hath He ever 
despised His brethren, the members of His Body, who 
conform to His poverty, by being poor in spirit, hum- 
ble, and meek. " He hath not hid his face from 
him," either through neglect or scorn, as too usually 
men do to the poor : " but when he called unto Him, 
He heard him," as not presuming in himself, but de- 
pending upon God. 

25. " My praise is of Thee," or " in Thee," for 
God the Son is praised in the Father, and the Father 
in the Son, " in the great congregation :" both of the 
Church militant here below, and triumphant above. 

j Acts xiii. 16. 
® — ® 



® @ 

260 THE FORM OF PRAYER USED BY [PART II. 

And that Thy praise may be perfected in and by me, 
" my vows will I perform ;" the vows of our blessed 
Lord, were, to offer up his soul a sacrifice for sin, and 
to give His holy Body and Blood to be the food of 
devout souls in the blessed Eucharist : and this to be 
publicly performed, even " in the sight of them that 
fear Him." And only for such is that blessed feast 
prepared : not for the proud, stubborn, and disobedi- 
ent ; but for 

26. " The poor," the humble and penitent souls, 
and such as have abjured the pomps and vanities of 
this wicked world : such " shall eat and be satisfied ;?' 
because they hungered and thirsted after right- 
eousness : " they that seek after the Lord" in all hu- 
mility and devotion " shall praise Him ;" because He 
is found of them that seek Him, and showeth Himself 
to such as distrust Him not ; " your heart shall live 
for ever." The life of your heart is the joy thereof, 
which is both begot and maintained unto perpetuity, 
by the Bread of Life. " He that eateth this Bread, 
shall live for ever 7 ." 

27. " All the ends of the world," the inhabitants 
of the utmost corners of the earth, " shall remember 
themselves," in the remembrance and adoration of 
their Creator and Redeemer, " and be turned unto the 
Lord ;" from the service of the creature, to the wor- 
ship of God over all, blessed for ever. Such, so great ' 
and unspeakable, is the efficacy of our Saviour's Pas- 
sion, as that thereby the sacred beams of grace and 

z John vi. 51. 

©— ~ " — — © 



®__ (•) 

CHAP. VII.] OUR LORD UPON THE CROSS. 261 

truth are displayed over all the world : insomuch that 
" all the kindreds of the nations," of what tribe, fami- 
ly, nation, sect, or condition soever, " shall worship 
before Him," fall down before His footstool, and 
adore Him as the great Redeemer of the world, and 
Prince of the Holy Catholic Church. 

28. " For the kingdom is the Lord's :" or, domi- 
nion over all the people of the earth, is given to the 
Lord Christ, Who " hath a Name written on His 
vesture and on His thigh, King of kings, and Lord 
of lords":" and " He is the Governor among the 
people ;" even of all true Christian people, among 
whom and over whom He sways His sceptre of right- 
eousness, by His holy Word, and by His Holy Spirit. 

29. " All such as be fat upon earth," spiritually 
fat, or grown in grace and holiness ; temporally fat, 
abounding in wealth and power, the princes and 
potentates of the earth, saith the Chaldee Paraph., 
" have eaten and worshipped," adoring the Lord, for 
that He feeds them with His Divine gifts and graces. 

30. " All they that go down into the dust," whose 
bodies are buried in the grave, " shall kneel before 
Him :" prostrate themselves unto Him, Who vouch- 
safed to give Himself, both soul and body, a ransom 
for their sins : for being all dead in sin, " no man 
hath quickened his own soul." That was and is 
affected only by the meritorious death of the Lord of 
Life. And such as are quickened, even 

31. "My seed" whose life in grace is the fruit 

a Rev. xix. 16. 

® — ■ ® 



I : ®| 

262 THE FORM OF PRAYER, ETC. [PART II. 

and issue of My death : of which seed it is said, 
" When thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, 
He shall see His seed 1 ," even the fruits of His Pas- 
sion, devout believers, who " shall serve Him :" or, 
keep His holy Will and Commandments, and walk in 
the same all the days of their life ; " they shall be 
counted unto the Lord for a generation," being regen- 
erated by water and the Holy Ghost in Baptism ; 
whereby they are made members of Christ, children 
of God, and heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

32. " They shall come," being admitted into the 
glorious communion of His blessed Saints, " and the 
Heavens" both above and below, both the Church 
triumphant and militant, " shall declare His righte- 
ousness," His mercies promised, and performed in the 
redemption of the world, shall be proclaimed to all 
succeeding generations, " to a people that shall be 
born," new-born in and through all the ages of the 
Church, " whom the Lord hath made," His own pe- 
culiar people, whose mouths are filled with His praise 
for ever, saying, 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 
In the Greek Liturgy, the people pray, in the words 
of the thief upon the cross, 

Lord, remember us in Thy Kingdom. 
The Priest answers, 

God be mindful of every one of us in His King- 
dom, both now and always, for ever and ever. Amen. 

b Isaiah liii. 10. 
&_ ® 



®- 



-® 



CHAP. VII.] PRAYER IN MOZARABICK LITURGY. 263 

In the Mozarabick Liturgy. 

I. 

By the wood of a tree was Adam banished out of 
Paradise : and from the tree of wood, the Cross of 
Christ, the thief that was crucified with our Lord as- 
cended into Paradise. The one, by eating the for- 
bidden fruit, transgressed the Law of his Maker : the 
other confessed Christ, in His Crucifixion, to be the 
Lord of Heaven, saying, " Lord, remember me, when 
Thou comest into Thy Kingdom. " 

II. 

Grant unto us, O Lord, the repentance of the thief 
upon the Cross ; and that we may with the like faith 
call upon Thee our Lord of great and much mercy, 
saying, " Lord, remember us in Thy Kingdom." 

III. 

Lord, Thou hast made us in the image of Thine 
ineffable glory, which we have much defaced by the 
black marks of our many falls : have mercy upon the 
work of Thine hands, sanctify us of Thy great good- 
ness, and restore us to our much-desired country, 
the celestial Paradise. " Lord remember us in Thy 
Kingdom." 




®- 



-® 



<•)- 




-® 



CHAPTER VIII. 

MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS PREPARATORY TO THE BLESSED SACRA- 
MENT, ON SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE. 

I. 

Thou art now invited, O my soul, to such a ban- 
quet as Heaven and earth affords not the like. It is 
the Precious Body and Blood of thy Redeemer, which 
He first gave to be the price of thy redemption, and 
now gives again to be thy food and nourishment. 

OUT OF ST. AMBROSE. 

Teach me, O Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, to un- 
derstand and believe, and ever to conceive and speak 
of those great and wonderful mysteries (and this day 
to receive the same) with that faith and esteem, hu- 
mility and contrition, holy desires and resolutions, 
reverence and devotion, as may please Thee, and con- 
duce to my soul's salvation. 

Empty my heart of all vain, idle, wandering 
thoughts, and of all filthy, irrational, and exorbitant 
lusts. Take from me this heart of stone, and give 
me a heart of flesh, a soft and melting heart, to fear 



©- 



-® 



® ® 

CHAP. VIII.] MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, ETC. 265 

Thee, love Thee, honour Thee, delight in Thee, and 
so to follow Thee, that I may be for ever happy in the 
enjoyment of Thee. 

II. 

OUT OF ST. AUGUSTINE . 

O holy crucified Jesus, I humbly beg, by that 
sacred effusion of Thy most Precious Blood, give unto 
Thy servant the effusion of tears, with compunction 
of spirit, when I approach Thine Altar, to partake of 
that Celestial Sacrament, worthy of all reverence, 
and the most inflamed devotion, which Thou, O Lord 
God, didst institute, and command to be received, in 
commemoration of Thine infinite love in dying for us, 
and for the reparation of our manifold infirmities, and 
daily failings. 

OUT OF THOMAS AQUINAS. 

Grant me, Blessed Lord, not only to receive that 
Sacrament in the outward elements, but in the virtue 
and power thereof; not Bread and Wine alone, but 
the Body and Blood of my Jesus, to the remission of 
all my sins, and to all other the benefits of His Death 
and Passion for me. 

III. 

OUT OF THOMAS AQUINAS. 

" The whole need not a physician, but they that 
are sick." And such am I, a diseased sin-sick soul ; 
and as sick I now go to my Physician ; as a sinner, 



c Man. c. 11. 



-® 



® — - — _ __ ® 

266 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS FOR [PART II. 

to the Redeemer of fallen man ; as miserable, to the 
Father of mercy ; as unclean, to the Fountain of 
purity ; as poor and needy, to the Lord of all bounty ; 
as blind and ignorant, to the Brightness and Splen- 
dour of Spirits ; as infirm and weak, to the Strength 
of Israel. And O, that it may please Thee to en- 
lighten my darkness, to heal all my infirmities, to en- 
rich my poverty, to strengthen my weakness, to wash 
away all my uncleanness, and by the Communion of 
Thy Precious Body and Blood to cleanse me from all 
filthiness both of flesh and spirit, that I may " perfect 
holiness in the fear of the Lord." 

IV. 

OUT OP THOMAS A KEMPIS. 

Thou didst offer up Thyself, blessed Jesus, even 
Thy whole self, upon the Altar of the Cross, a sacri- 
fice for my sins : no member of Thy Body not tor- 
mented, no power of Thy soul not sacrificed, no drop 
of Thy Blood not shed for me a miserable sinner. It 
is therefore most just and meet, and my bounden duty, 
that I should offer up myself, my whole self, to Thee 
and to Thy service : for I am not mine own, being 
bought with a price ; and such a price as transcends 
the value of all that the whole heavens and earth af- 
ford beside. 

Whatever I offer unto Thee, O Lord, though it 
be all that I do enjoy in the world, with my prayers 
for all men, it will not be accepted, without the of- 
fering of myself; for it is not mine, but me ; not all 

@ — — 



® ' <? 

CHAP. VIII.] SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, ETC* 267 

that is without me, but all that is within me Thou 
requirest, as the price of Thyself to be enjoyed. 

Receive me, O Lord, in the devout participation 
of Thy most holy Body and Blood, whereunto I am 
now invited. 

Guard me, O Lord, with the pious custody and 
strong defence of Thy holy Angels invisibly present, 
and assistant in the transaction of those tremendous 
mysteries of Godliness and salvation, that the enemies 
of all that is holy and good may be thence driven 
back with shame and confusion. 

In all the holy actions of that sacred, Celestial 
Service, make me sensible of the sweetness of Thy 
presence with me : that I may " taste and see" how 
" gracious the Lord is*," " be satisfied with the plen- 
teousness of Thy House, and drink of Thy pleasures 
as out of a river. For with Thee is the well of life, 
and in Thy light shall we see light 6 ." 

" O send out Thy light and Thy truth, that they 
may lead me, and bring me to Thy holy hill, and to 
Thy dwelling :" and " that I may go unto the Altar 
of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness :" 
and " upon the harp" (with my heart) " will I give 
thanks unto Thee, O God my God ! ." 

PSALM CXI. 

1. " I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with 
my whole heart :" God must be worshipped not with 
the lips alone, nor alone in the closet, but both with 

d Psalm xxxiv. 8. e Psalm xxxvi. 8, 9. f Psalm xliii. 3, 4. 
_ -g) 



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268 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS FOR [PART II. 

heart and voice, both secretly and in the Congrega- 
tion ; " secretly among the faithful, and in the Con- 
gregation." Not in the conventicles of heretics and 
schismatics, but in the Congregation of the Faithful. 

2. " The works of the Lord are great ; sought 
out of all them that have pleasure therein." Whose 
delight it is to study and meditate upon the greatness 
of God apparent in His works. 

3. " His work is worthy to be praised and had in 
honour ; and His righteousness endureth for ever." 
Wherein to the honour of God, His righteousness is 
as Himself unchangeable and everlasting. 

4. " The merciful and gracious Lord hath so 
done His marvellous works, that they ought to be had 
in remembrance." Though the Lord be marvellous 
in all His works, yet of His grace and mercy He hath 
therein observed such an excellent order, that we 
might remember and recount them to His praise and 
glory. 

5. " He hath given meat to them that fear Him ; 
He shall ever be mindful of His Covenant." In re- 
membrance of the Covenant of Grace He has made 
with His people, He feeds them with Celestial meat, 
even the Sacrament of His holy Body and Blood. 

6. " He hath showed His people the power of 
His works ; that He may give them the heritage of 
the heathen." By the power and virtue whereof, we, 
who were heathens, are entitled to the heritage of 
Heaven. 

7. " The works of His hands are verity and judg- 
es) — ® 



® 

CHAP. VIII.] SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, ETC. 269 

ment ; all His Commandments are true." Christ is 
Truth to them who worthily receive Him, but Judg- 
ment to the unworthy. 

8. "They stand fast for ever and ever; and are 
done in truth and equity." And this being true and 
equitable, shall never fail of its due accomplishment. 

9. " He hath sent redemption to His people, He 
hath commanded His Covenant for ever : Holy and 
Reverend is His Name." God's holy and reverend 
Name is to be for ever magnified, for the redemption 
of His people in the Blood of His Son, Which is 
sealed and applied in the blessed Eucharist, to stand 
as an everlasting Covenant betwixt God and man. 

10. " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of 
wisdom ;" the first part of this Covenant is the begin- 
ning of wisdom, viz., to fear the Lord, and to depart 
from evil, or to renounce the devil and all his works, 
the pomps, &c. : " a good understanding have all 
they that do thereafter ; the praise of it endureth for 
ever :" they are truly wise who frame both their 
hearts and lives bv this rule of Divine fear, the praise 
whereof is everlasting. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 
As it was in the beginning, &c, 

The Prayer. 

I. 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to be praised, and had 
in honour for all Thy marvellous works; but most to 
be admired for Thy grace and mercy in the redemp- 

9 — — ® 



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270 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, ETC. [PART II. 

tion of Thy people by the Blood of Thine own dear 
Son, Whom Thou hast also given to be meat unto 
them that fear Thee. Be ever mindful, O Lord, of 
this Thy Covenant of grace ; and grant that I may 
ever receive the blessed Sacrament, which is the seal 
thereof, in Verity, and not unto Judgment ; not to my 
condemnation, but unto the attainment of the heritage 
of Heaven : through Jesus Christ, &c. 

II. 

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to pierce my heart with such 
an awful fear of Thy holy and reverend Name, that I 
may not dare to offend Thee, by transgressing the 
least of Thy Commandments, but carefully, conscien- 
tiously, and constantly to do thereafter ; that I may be 
admitted into the blissful society of those happy souls, 
the praise of whose innocence and holiness endureth 
for ever : through Jesus Christ, &c. 



That we may worthily receive the Body and Blood 
of our Lord, to the confirming and strengthening of 
our souls, let us worthily say that Prayer which the 
only-begotten Son of God hath taught us, crying unto 
Heaven with a pure heart, 

Our Father, Which art in Heaven, &,c. 



You may, if you desire to enlarge your prayers upon this di- 
vine subject, add Psalm cxvi. verse 10, to the end, and 
cxxviii. and cxlvii. verse 12, to the end. 



@ _ _ . 1 g 



-® 




CHAPTER IX, 

MEDITATIONS UPON YOUR GOING TO CHURCH, "WITH SOME SHORT DI- 
RECTIONS FOR YOUR DEMEANOUR IN THE HOUSE, AND IN THE 
SERVICE OJF GOD. 

Upon your going to Church, three things will be 
necessary for you to consider : 1, The condition of 
the place whither you are going ; 2, The great end 
of your going thither ; and 3, How there you are to 
demean yourself. All this you would consider, if you 
were going to the palace of an earthly prince^ who is 
but a mortal man, like yourself: and you surely have 
much more reason to consider these particulars, now 
that you are going unto the Courts of the Lord's 
House, 

First then, as to the House whither you are going. 
It is indeed, as to its fabric, but like other houses, 
made of wood and stone : (even as the Lord's Day is 
but like other days as to the air and light of Heaven :) 
but the relative holiness of this House, and its emi- 
nency above other houses, will appear by the names 
whereby it is called both in the Book and by the peo- 
ple of God. 

Under the Law it was called " The Tabernacle of 
the Congregation," i. e. the place of God's meeting 
with His people ; " The Temple of the Lord," where 

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272 MEDITATIONS UPON [PART II. 

He presents Himself to the contemplation, or view of 
His worshippers, sitting betwixt the Cherubims as on 
His Throne of State. It is also called " The Sanc- 
tuary of the Lord ;" " the House of God ;" " The 
habitation of His holiness;" and " The place where 
His honour dwelleth." All which names do explain 
each other, and need no interpretation* 

Under the Gospel it is called 'Exvlrfilu zov Oeov, 
" The Church of God ;" KvQiax^ " The Lord's 
House ;'' Bauili^ " the King's Palace ;" and Orato- 
rium, " The House of Prayer." Any of which names 
(much more all of them together considered) will 
oblige any man who hath any sense of religion, to 
obey that command of God Himself, which is not 
merely ceremonial and typical, but moral and perpet- 
ual : " Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence 
My Sanctuary; I am the LordV 

Secondly, as to the great end of your going to 
Church, it is, to present yourself before the Lord, 
and there to adore the great Majesty of Heaven, 
from Whom you have your life and breath and all 
things. 

It is not to serve yourself, by hearing this or the 
other fine-gifted Minister tickling your itching ears, 
by his taking discourses agreeable to your fancy ; but 
" to serve the Lord" is your errand to His House, 
viz., there to join with the Minister and the congre- 
gation in public prayers and praises of God, in " psalms 
and hymns and spiritual songs h ," in confessions, 

g Lev. xix. 30. h Eph. v. 19. 

<•) .-- — ———— __ , @ 



® ® 

CHAP. IX.] GOING TO CHURCH, ETC. 273 

thanksgivings, and benedictions, as wherein chiefly 
the service of God consists. 

" Behold, Now praise the Lord, all ye servants of 
the Lord : ye that by night stand in the House of the 
Lord, even in the Courts of the House of our God. 
Lift up your hands in the Sanctuary, and praise the 
Lord." 

As forme, "I will worship towards Thy holy 
Temple, and praise Thy NameV 

Thirdly, as to your carriage and demeanour in 
the House of God, you are commanded, " Keep thy 
foot when thou goest to the House of God';" enjoin- 
ing thee, 1, to beware of all light, unseemly, indecent, 
and irreverent carriage, and to show humility and 
devotion in all the gestures of thy outward man, 
" bowing down thyself, and kneeling before the Lord 
thy Maker™; 5 ' before Him Who made both thy body 
and soul, and joined them together, that they might 
be joined in His service. So worshipped the people 
of God ; the whole congregation " bowed themselves 
with their faces to the ground"." And so all good 
people resolve to do : " We will go into His Taber- 
nacle, and fall low on our knees before His foot- 
stool'." 

2. The foot of the inward man must also, and 
chiefly, be kept upright in the House of God. Thy 
affections are the feet or motions of thy soul ; these 
must be kept free from all secular cares, pure from 



i Psalm cxxxiv. 1 — 3. k Psalm cxxxviii. 2. 1 Eccles. v. 1. 

m Psalm xcv. 6. n 2 Chron. vii. 3. o Ps. cxxxii. 7. 

18 
<*> © 



(•) , © 

274 MEDITATIONS UPON [PART II. 

all sensual lusts, clean from all wanton, wicked in- 
clinations, yea from all thoughts of any worldly con- 
cerns. For " ye cannot serve God and mammon p ." 

In the High-priest's forehead was engraven in a 
plate of gold, " Holiness to the Lord q ;" and every 
ordinary Priest was commanded to wash before he 
entered into the Sanctuary r ; intimating that exact 
purity and holiness which is required of all, both 
Priests and people, when we approach the Presence 
of the Lord, in His holy Temple. So saith the holy 
man of God, " Holiness becometh Thy House, O 
Lord, for ever':" and he resolves accordingly ; " I 
will wash my hands in innocency, and so will I go to 
Thine Altar 1 . 

Be not slothful and negligent, averse and careless, 
backward and tardy, in coming to the Church ; for 
many and mischievous are the consequents of coming 
late. For, 1, You rob yourself of the opportunity of 
your private prayers, for a blessing upon the public. 
2, You lose the benefit of the public Confession and 
Absolution, which are of high esteem and value to all 
who are wisely religious. And, 3, To deprive your- 
self wittingly and willingly of any part of God's Pub- 
lic Worship, is both a sin and a loss, of so great an 
account, as cannot easily be expressed, nor will be 
ordinarily believed. 

Against such sinful sloth and neglect, endeavour 
to have imprinted in your heart the love of God's 

p Matt. vi. 24. q Exod. xxviii. 36. r Exod. xxx. 19, 20. 

s Psalm xciii. 6. t Psalm xxvi. 6. 

<§) ® 



® ® 

CHAP. IX.] GOING TO CHURCH, ETC. 275 

House, and of His Service there performed. Say, 
with the man after God's own heart, 

" Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy 
House, and the place where Thine honour dwell- 
ethV 

" I was glad when they said unto me, We will go 
into the House of the LordV 

" Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem." 

1. When you come to the Church door, 

Consider, that you are now upon entrance into 
the Presence-chamber of the great King of the world, 
Whose Throne of Glory is in Heaven above, but His 
Throne of Grace in His Temple here below. Say 
then within yourself, 

" Surely the Lord is in this place," &c. 

" How dreadful is this place ! this is none other 
but the House of God : this is the gate of Heaven 7 ." 

1. " O how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou 
Lord of hosts ! 

2. " My soul hath a desire and longing to enter 
into the Courts of the Lord : my heart and my flesh 
rejoice in the living God. 

3. " Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, 
and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young, 
even Thine Altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and 
my God. 

4. " Blessed are they that dwell in Thy House : 
they will be always praising Thee 2 ." 

u Ps. xxvi. 8. x Ps. cxxii. 1, 2. y Gen. xxviii. 16, 17. z Ps. Ixxxiv. 1 — 4. 
®- ® 



® ® 

276 MEDITATIONS UPON [PART II. 

And most happy were I, could I both esteem it, 
and make it my greatest joy, and constant labour of 
love, to praise the Lord in His Temple. 

2. When you are entered, and view the Baptistery , or 
Font, 
Give hearty thanks unto God for your Christen- 
ing ; that by holy Baptism He hath called you to the 
state of grace and salvation, through Jesus Christ : 
and humbly beseech God to give you His grace to 
continue in the same to your life's end, by the reli- 
gious observance of that vow which was so solemnly 
taken in your name, the which you must now per- 
form, that you forfeit not the great privileges, rewards, 
and honours, of being a member of Christ, a child of 
God, and an heir of the Kingdom of Heaven. 

3. When you view the Pulpit, 
Remember how many good lessons you have re- 
ceived thence ; the which not being carefully practis- 
ed, will rise up in judgment against you in the great 
day of your trial. Resolve therefore, for the future, 
to be a doer of the word, and not a hearer only, de- 
ceiving your own self. 

4. When you look up towards the Altar, say, 
" What reward shall I give unto the Lord, for al! 
the benefits He hath done unto me ? 

" I will receive the Cup of salvation," offer the 
sacrifice of thanksgiving for my redemption, " and 
call upon the Name of the Lord. 

| 

(±)— — — — — — ® 



® ® 

CHAP. IX.] GOING TO CHURCH, ETC. 277 

" I will pay my vows unto the Lord, in the sight 
of all His people, in the Courts of the Lord's House ; 
even in the midst of Thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the 
LordV 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &,c. 

5. When you come to your seat, kneeling down, 
pray. 

I. 

Let Thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the 
prayers of Thy humble servants ; and grant that what 
we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually, through 
Jesus Christ, &c 

II. 

O God, forasmuch as without Thee, we are not 
able to please Thee ; grant that Thy Holy Spirit may 
in all things direct and rule our hearts : and more es- 
pecially be assistant to us in all the holy actions of 
this day, through Jesus Christ, &c. 

III. 

And since by reason of our sins we are unworthy 
to oner up any sacrifice to so pure a Majesty ; grant, 
merciful Lord, both to me, and to all Thy faithful 
people, pardon and peace : that being cleansed from 
all our sins, we may serve Thee with a quiet mind : 
through Jesus Christ, &c. 

a Psalm cxvi. 11, 12, 16. 
® ' -® 



® — <•) 

278 MEDITATIONS UPON [PART II. 



DIRECTIONS RELATING TO SOME PARTS OF THE PUBLIC 
WORSHIP. 

As soon as the Minister begins with the Public 
Worship, all your private meditations and prayers 
must be waved, and your mind applied to attend dili- 
gently, and to join devoutly in every part and passage 
of Divine Service ; considering that this is the great 
end of your coming to Church, and your business there 
is to serve the Lord with your Christian brethren in 
public. 

1. Therefore when the Minister exhorts you, out 
of the Word of God, to confess and acknowledge 
your sins and wickedness, harden not your heart, but 
with all possible humility both of body and soul say 
after the Minister in the Confession of sin ; and to 
this, and to every Prayer, or other act of Divine 
Worship, where it is prescribed, neglect not to say, 
Amen : for that is as it were the seal to confirm to 
your soul the benefits thereof. And the Hebrews 
have a saying, that " Whosoever says Amen, with all 
his might, opens the doors of Paradise." 

2. After the Confession, when the Minister comes 
to the words of Absolution, bow down your head, 
and say softly in your heart, " Lord, let this pardon 
pronounced by Thy Minister, fall upon my soul, and 
seal thereunto the forgiveness of all my sins." 

3. The Psalms and Hymns are to be answered 
verse for verse with the Minister, that so all may join 
and bear a part in the Service of God ; for " in His 

-® 



® ® 

CHAP. IX.] GOING TO CHURCH, ETC. 279 

Temple doth every man speak of His honour 1 ." 
And here, although you cannot read, yet your heart 
may join with them that do read ; and your mouth 
also may show forth the praise of God, by saying, after 
every Psalm, " Glory be to the Father, and to," &c, 
or else, if it fall in course, " As it was in the begin- 
ing, is now," &,c, adding always Amen, to express 
how affectionately you desire the glory of God. 

4. Be not silent nor ashamed publicly and audibly 
to make confession of the holy Christian faith, when 
you are thereunto called by the Minister. For this 
is a duty you owe both to God and man : it is an act 
of God's Worship, and a declaration that you hold the 
same faith with all true Christians. And therefore it 
is required of you, nGt only " with the heart to be- 
lieve unto righteousness," but that " with the mouth" 
also " confession be made unto salvation ." 

And when the Confession of Faith is publicly 
pronounced, do not you sit or loll, as if it concerned 
you not, but stand up with the rest of the congrega- 
tion, to signify and declare that you will stand to this 
faith, and u earnestly contend for it," as being the 
same " which was once given to," or by " the saints," 
the holy Apostles. 

5. Be not so cold and careless in giving honour 
to God, as not to " bow at the Name of Jesus;" for 
it is a duty positively commanded, and universally 
practised by the Church and people of God, in all 
ages. And therefore give no ear to those deceivable 

b Psalm xxix. 9. c Ptom. x. 10. 
® — ® 



© ® 

280 MEDITATIONS, ETC. [PART IT. 

criticisms, corrupt glosses, and false inferences, which 
are too frequently but profanely urged, to make void 
the commandment of God, in the omission of this 
religious practice. If you hear any such allegations 
out of the pulpit, detest them the rather, that any act 
of religious worship should be spoken against in the 
place where whatever tends to the honour of God 
should be magnified and advanced. 

6. That you may not be tired with the length of 
the Divine Service, consider, 1, the great variety of 
its several parts, as consisting of Prayers and Praises, 
Confessions, Thanksgivings, Invitations, Lessons, 
Admonitions, &c, all of which are with most admira- 
ble prudence and religious wisdom so ordered, and 
contrived to follow each other, that so the ending of 
one and beginning of another, may renew and re- 
quicken your devotion cheerfully to join in all. 

Remember, 2, Whose service it is you are a doing, 
and continue therein from the beginning to the end : 
that you may reap thy benefit of the whole office, 
both of the Absolution in the beginning, and of the 
blessing in the end, and of the Amens throughout. 




© ® 



®- 



-® 




CHAPTER X. 

MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS AT THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. 

When you go up to Communicate. 

" Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy 
laden, and I will refresh you d ." 

Thus calleth my Saviour upon sinners. Where- 
unto my heart answereth, " I come, blessed Jesus ;" 
in all humility, and deeply sensible of my sins, I now 
come unto Thee, to be eased of the burden of them, 
and to be refreshed with the sense of Thy mercy, and 
the truth of Thy salvation. 

" My heart hath talked of Thee," and of Thy gra- 
cious command, " Seek ye My face : Thy face, Lord, 
do I now seek 6 ." 

" O hide not Thou Thy face from me f ," under 
the clouds of my sins ; neither let the thick clouds 
of my transgressions hinder the light of Thy counte- 
nance from shining upon Thy servant. 



d Matt. xi. 28. 



e Psalm xxvii. 9. 



f Psalm xxvii. 10. 



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-® 



®— ' — ® 

282 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

When you kneel down before the Altar. 

" Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and 
honour, and power : for Thou hast created all things, 
and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created^." 

" Worthy is the Lamb That was slain, to receive 
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and 
honour, and glory, and blessing' 1 . " 

OUT OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM'S LITURGY. 

But I am unworthy His praise should come within 
my polluted lips : and much more unworthy His Pre- 
cious Body and Blood should be received into my 
soul, through an unclean mouth. 

But since He disdained not to be born in a sta- 
ble, and to be laid in a manger amongst beasts 1 ; since 
he vouchsafed to enter into the house of a Jeper k , and 
of a publican 1 , and to admit the kisses of an unclean 
sinner (such as I am) washing His delicate feet with 
her penitent tears m ; O vouchsafe, most benign Jesus, 
to receive me also ; reject me not, though a sinner, 
yet Thy servant ; though unclean, yet penitent, and 
now humbling myself under Thy most mighty hand. 
That it may please Thee to remit, to release, to par- 
don all my sins, whether of knowledge or ignorance, 
whether by thought, word, or deed committed : that 
with a pure and clean soul, I may receive Thy most 
Precious Body and Blood. 

g Rev. iv. 11. h Rev. v. 12. i Luke ii. 7. 

k Matt. xxvi. 6. 1 Luke v. 29. m Luke vii. 38. 

®— ® 



® ® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 283 

Prayers out of several other Liturgies, that the de- 
vout reader may have the more choice, and fix upon 
the use of such as he feels most enqidckening his 
devotion. 

out of st. james's liturgy. 
I. 

Lord God, the Bread of Heaven, and Life of 
the world ; I have sinned against Heaven and before 
Thee, and am not worthy to partake of Thy most 
holy mysteries ; yet vouchsafe, merciful Lord, to make 
me worthy by Thy grace ; that I may not receive Thy 
holy Body and Blood to my condemnation, but unto 
the remission of my sins and everlasting life. Amen. 

OUT OF THE R. B. 
II. 

1 beseech Thee, O Lord, that I may so worthily 
receive those sacred Mysteries of salvation, as to have 
Christ dwelling in my heart, and to become the Tem- 
ple of the Holy Ghost. 

III. 

In the spirit of humility and with a contrite heart, 
receive me, O Lord ; and may the sacrifice which 
this day I oifer up unto Thee, be accepted, and please 
Thee, O Lord my God. 

IV. 

Let not the participation of Thy Body, Lord 
® — ® 



(5)- ® 

284 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

Jesus, which I, too much unworthy, presume to 
receive, be unto me for judgment, but effectual through 
Thy great mercy for the safeguard both of my mind 
and body, and for the healing of my sin-sick soul, 
Who livest and reignest with the Father, &c. 

OUT OF THE GREEK RITUAL. 
I. 

May what we now offer up unto Thee, O Lord, 
be accepted, for the mercy of the universal world, for 
all them for whom Christ offered up Himself a sacri- 
fice upon the Altar of the Cross, for the glory of Thy 
Name, and for the coming of the Holy Ghost, that He 
may please to visit and enlighten my heart. Amen. 

II. 

As the offering of righteous Abel, as the sacrifice 
of Noah, of Abraham, of Isaac, &c, so let this our 
sacrifice be acceptable unto Thee, O Lord ; and may 
the same be so worthily offered by us, and mercifully 
received by Thee, as when it was performed by the 
holy Apostles. Amen. 

III. 

O God, the King of all, give me, I beseech Thee, 
true compunction, the redemption of my sins, and 
the amendment of my life, who am deeply immersed 
in bodily affections, estranged from Thee, and with- 
out hopes, but in Thy great goodness, and saving 
mercies, Omnipotent Jesus, Saviour and Redeemer. 
Amen. 

® ® 



<8>-— ® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 285 

OUT OF THE MOZARAEICK LITURGY. 
I. 

May the sacrifice we now offer up unto Thy 
Divine Majesty be effectual for the pardon of all our 
offences, for the establishment of the holy Catholic 
and Apostolic faith, and for all who religiously pro- 
fess the same, through Jesus Christ, &,c. 

II. 

Bearing in mind continually the holy Catholic 
Church, we pray that the Lord may be pleased to be 
propitious hereunto ; and by the increase of faith, 
hope, and charity, to enlarge its limits. We likewise 
remember all them that are fallen, all that be in cap- 
tivity, the infirm and sick, the stranger, the fatherless, 
and widow, that the Lord would in mercy look upon 
them, restore, redeem, heal, comfort, and relieve 
them all, through Jesus Christ, &c. 

Ill, 

O Holy Trinity, the Storehouse of blessings, 
vouchsafe to bless, confirm, and strengthen us, (all 
here present before Thee:) deliver us from the day 
of condemnation, and let us not be confounded when 
we shall appear before Thee, and in the presence of 
Thy holy Angels : but make us joyful in Thy Resur- 
rection, blessed Jesus. Keep the soul of Thy ser- 
vant the King ; and let grace and peace, charity 
and humility, flourish in his days, through Jesus 
Christ, &c. 

i 

® ® 



®- . <§) 

286 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

IV. 

Grant, O Lord our God, that we may receive the 
Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, to obtain 
the remission of all our sins, and to be replenished 
with Thy holy Spirit, Who livest and reignest, Fa- 
ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God over all, blessed 
for ever. 

OUT OF THE -33THI0PIC LITURGY. 
I. 

Holy, Holy, Holy, thrice Blessed, Ineffable Lord, 
grant me to receive the blessed Body of my Redeem- 
er, not unto judgment, but to all fruitfulness in good 
works, according unto Thy will : and that such fruits 
may remain to Thy glory, duicken us in Thee to 
do Thy will. In faith we call Thee Father, and pray, 
" Thy Kingdom come, Hallowed be Thy Name" in 
us and by us ; for Thou art most powerful, praise- 
worthy, and glorious : to Thee be glory for ever. 
Amen. 

II. 

O God, the Governor of souls, the Guide of the 
holy, and the Crown of the just : open mine eyes now 
to see Thee, mine ears always to hear Thee, and 
mine heart to receive Thee. O give me a clean heart, 
and renew a right spirit v/ithin me. And after of 
Thy great grace Thou hast satiated my soul with 
Thy blessed Body and Blood, give me to understand 
both Thy greatness and Thy goodness, and grant 

®_ — ® 



® ® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 287 

that Thy holy will may ever be dene in my soul : 
For Thine is the Kingdom, O Lord ; glory and bless- 
ing be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for 
ever. Amen. 

OCT OP THE ENGLISH LITCRGY. 
III. 

Grant me, blessed Lord, so to eat the flesh of 
Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His Blood, 
that my sinful Body may be made clean by His most 
holy Body, and my soul washed in His most Precious 
Blood ; that I may evermore dwell in Him, and He 
in me. Amen. 

Upon the approach of the Priest with the consecrated 
Elements. 

I. 

Come, Holy Jesus, come, and take possession of 
my soul ; purify it with Thy Precious Body and 
Blood, empty it of all nlthiness both of flesh and 
spirit ; that it being fitted for Thy habitation, it may 
please Thee to abide with me for ever. 

II. 

But I am unworthy Thou shouldest come under 
my roof, which is ruinous and unclean ; but to Thee, 
O Thou Lover of souls, I humbly make my address 
for the repair and purification of my soul. 



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®— — ~ — — <•> 

288 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

III. 

I believe and I confess Thee, the blessed Jesus 
Christ, the Son of the living God, Who earnest into 
the world to save sinners, whereof I am chief. 

When the Priest offers thee the holy Bread, say softly 
with him, 

OUT OF THE GREEK RITUAL, 

" The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was 
given for me, preserve my body and soul unto ever- 
lasting life." 

Then answer audibly, Amen n . 

So likewise when the Cup of Blessing is offered to 
you, say in your heart, with the greatest devotion 
that possibly you may, 

" The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was 
shed for me, preserve my body and soul unto everlast- 
ing life." 

Answering audibly, Amen . 

And because this Holy Communion requireth from 
us the greatest charity we can express, it w r ould 
be highly religious thus to pray for every com- 
municant, saying Amen to the words of the Priest, 
when he gives the Sacrament to any one as well 
as to yourself. 



o Dici tibit Sacerdos, Corpus Christi et tu dicis, Amen, h. e. Verum Quod 
confitetur lingua, teneat affectus. Ambr. de Sac. 1. 4 c. 5. 

p Universa Ecclesia, accepto Christi sanguine, dicit, Amen. Aug. Resp. 
ad. Oros. q. 49. Cyr. Heiros. Cat. Myst. 5. 

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® _® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 289 

And this act of your charity in praying for others, 
will render your own prayers and services the 
more holy and acceptable to God, and effectual to 
your soul's health. For he that prays for himself 
alone, reaps only the slender benefit of his own 
single devotion : but whoso devoutly prays for 
others, reaps the fruits of the prayers of others ; 
which is the great benefit of the Communion of 
Saints. 

After you have received the consecrated Bread. 

The Bread which I have now taken, is the Bread 
which came down from Heaven, and giveth life unto 
the world. 

O that I may now feel its efficacy, enquickening 
and inflaming my soul with the heavenly ardours of 
divine love, having all my affections set upon things 
above, and not upon things below. May this Bread 
be to my soul the staff of strength, whereby I may 
vanquish all the assaults of the devil, the world, and 
the flesh, and continue my Lord's faithful servant and 
soldier unto my life's end. Amen. 

After the Cup received, 

O that this precious Blood of my dear Redeemer 
may be now both the purification and nourishment of 
my soul, the seal of my pardon and peace with God, 
and the pledge of mine inheritance in Heaven. 

19 



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(5). _ ® 

290 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

After both. 
I. 

May this Blessed Sacrament I have now received 
(though much unworthy of so great a mercy) seal to 
my soul both pardon and peace : and now being made 
whole, I may sin no more. Amen. 

II, 

Grant, Holy Jesus, that as I have now received in 
faith Thy precious Body and Blood, veiled under the 
species of Bread and Wine, I may hereafter behold 
Thy blessed face reveiled in Heaven, to eat and drink 
with Thy holy Angels and Saints in their mansions of 
bliss ; where they are satisfied with the fulness of the 
most ravishing delights in the beatifical vision of the 
Thrice-Blessed Trinity, Father,'Son, and Holy Ghost : 
of Whom, and through Whom, and in Whom are 
all things, and to Whom be all glory for ever. Amen. 

OUT OF THE GREEK RITUAL. 

We give Thee thanks, good Lord, the Benefactor 
of our souls, that Thou hast this day made us worthy 
of Thy celestial and immortal mysteries. Vouchsafe, 
O Lord, to confirm us in Thy fear, to preserve our 
life, to secure our paths, and to guide our feet in the 
way of peace. Amen. 

THE SONG OF SIMEON. 

1. Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in 
peace, according to Thy word, 

2. For mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation, 

© : -<§> 



® ® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 291 

3. Which Thou hast prepared before the face of 
all people, 

4. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be 
the glory of Thy people Israel. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 
As it was in the beginning, &c, 

MEDITATIONS WHILST OTHERS ARE COMMUNICATING. 

" The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth 
his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers ; 
though he be not cleansed according to the purifica- 
tion of the SanctuaryV 

Blessed are they who dwell in the house of the 
Lord, and are fed though it be but with the crumbs 
that fall from His Table. 

The thirty -fourth Psalm is in the Apostolical Con- 
stitutions, and in St. Chrysostom's Liturgy, ap- 
pointed to be at this time devoutly prayed. 

1. I will alway give thanks unto the Lord : His 
praise shall ever be in my mouth. 

2. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the 
humble shall hear' thereof, and be glad. 

3. O praise the Lord with me, and let us magnify 
His Name together. 

4. I sought the Lord, and He heard me : yea, He 
delivered me out of all my fear. 

5. They had an eye unto Him, and were lighten- 
ed : and their faces were not ashamed. 

q 2 Chron. xxx. 18, 19. 
® — — ' ® 



® — — ® 

292 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS [PART II. 

6. Lo, the poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him : 
yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles. 

7. The Angel of the Lord tarrieth round about 
them that fear Him, and delivereth them. 

8. O taste and see how gracious the Lord is : 
blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 

9. O fear the Lord, ye that are His Saints : for 
they that fear Him lack nothing. 

10. The lions do lack, and suffer hunger : but 
they who seek the Lord, shall want no manner of 
thing that is good. 

11. Come, ye children, and hearken unto me: I 
will teach you the fear of the Lord. 

12. What man is he that lusteth to live, and would 
fain see good days ? 

13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that 
they speak no guile. 

14. Eschew evil, and do good : seek peace and 
ensue it. 

15. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous : 
and His ears are open unto their prayers. 

16. The countenance of the Lord is against them 
that do evil ; to root out the remembrance of them 
from the earth. 

17. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth 
them; and delivereth them out of all their troubles.- 

18. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a 
contrite heart : and will save such as be of an hum- 
ble spirit. 

® ■ — ® 



®— -® 

CHAP. X.] AT THE SACRAMENT. 293 

19. Great are the troubles of the righteous : but 
the Lord delivereth him out of all. 

20. He keepeth all his bones ; so that not one of 
them is broken. 

21. But misfortune shall slay the ungodly : and 
they that hate the righteous, shall be desolate. 

22. The Lord delivereth the souls of His servants : 
and all they that put their trust in Him, shall not be 
destitute. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 
As it was in the beginning, &c. 

The Prayer. 

I. 

May the praise of the Lord be ever in my mouth : 
and let us all magnify His Name together, who do 
now taste and see how gracious the Lord is ; for He 
hath heard our prayers, enlightened our minds, deliv- 
ered us from all our fears, and from all those troubles 
whereunto our sins had made us liable. 

II. 

And O, that the sweet taste of our gracious Lord, 
in this Blessed Sacrament of His Body and Blood, 
may have its proper influence upon all the affections 
of our hearts, and actions of our lives ; that we may 
henceforth and for ever eschew evil, and do good ; 
being fruitful in all the good works of righteousness 
and true holiness, from whence ensue eternal peace 
and happiness, through Jesus Christ, &,c. 

® « - --- - - - © 



® _ <•) 

294 MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS, ETC. [PART II. 

" I have sworn," vowed in my Baptism, and now 
again renewed the same vow, " and am steadfastly 
purposed to keep Thy righteous judgments'." 

" I am Thine ;" even now solemnly devoted Thine, 
steadfastly resolved Thine : " O save me, for I have 
sought Thy commandments 8 ." 

" O hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths, that 
my footsteps slip not 1 ." 

O hold Thou up my goings in Thy paths, " that 
I may daily perform my vows u ." 

r Psalm cxix. 106. s Psalm cxix. 94. 

t Psalm xvii. 5. u Psalm lxi. 8. 




® — — — ® 



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CHAPTER XI. 



PSAUtfS Cr P3AI8S A^TD THAlsTKBGIVrNG AFTER THE HOLY COL 



PSALM CIII. 

Praise the Lord, O my soul : and all that is with- 
in me, praise His holy Name. 

2. Praise the Lord, O my soul ; and forget not 
all His benefits : 

3. Who forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth all thy 
infirmities : 

4. Who saveth thy life from destruction, and 
crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness : 

5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, 
making thee young and lusty as the eagle. 

6. The Lord executeth righteousness and judg- 
ment for all them that are oppressed with wrong. 

7. He showed His ways unto Moses, His works 
unto the children of Israel. 

8. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, 
long-suffering, and of great goodness. 

9. He will not alway be chiding : neither keep- 
eth He His anger for ever. 

10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor 
rewarded us according to our wickedness. 



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®- 

296 PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING [PART II. 

11. For look how high the Heaven is, in compa- 
rison of the earth : so great is His mercy also towards 
them that fear Him. 

12. Look how wide also the east is from the west : 
so far hath He set our sins from us. 

13. Yea like as a father pitieth his own children : 
even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear Him. 

14. For He knoweth whereof we are made: He 
remembereth that we are but dust. 

15. The days of man are but as grass : for he 
flourisheth as a flower of the field. 

16. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is 
gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 

17. But the merciful goodness of the Lord en- 
dureth for ever and ever upon them that fear Him ; 
and His righteousness upon children's children. 

18. Even upon such as keep His covenant, and 
think upon His Commandments to do them. 

19. The Lord hath prepared His seat in Heaven : 
and His Kingdom ruleth over all. 

20. Q praise the Lord, ye Angels of His, ye that 
excel in strength : ye that fulfil His Commandments, 
and hearken unto the voice of His words. 

21. O praise the Lord, all ye His hosts : ye ser- 
vants of His that do His pleasure. 

22. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of His, 
in all places of His dominion. Praise Thou the Lord, 
O my soul. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 
As it was in the beginning, &c. 

® — — — — ® 



® ® 

CHAP. XI.] AFTER THE COMMUNION. 297 

I 

It is not within the power of all the faculties of 
my soul, worthily to praise the Lord, for that He hath 
now satisfied my mouth with the good things of Hea- 
ven ; He hath forgiven me all my sins, and healed 
the diseases of my soul ; He hath renewed my strength 
as an eagle, to mount my soul unto Heaven upon the 
sacred wings of holy faith, firm hope, fervent charity, 
and by the virtue of that Celestial food I have now 
received. 

II. 

How great is the goodness, and how great is the 
mercy of the Lord, Who hath not dealt with me after 
my sins, nor rewarded me according to my wicked- 
ness ! But as a father pitieth his own children, so 
merciful is the Lord, and hath compassion upon the 
work of His own hands, and whom He hath framed 
after his own Image, frail and sinful though we be. 

III. 

But since through the weakness and frailties of 
my mortal nature I cannot praise the Lord as becom- 
eth His eminent grace and greatness ; may my defects 
herein be supplied with the Hallelujahs of Angels 
and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven. 
And it is the exultation and joy of my heart, that these 
Celestial Spirits cease not day and night, saying, 
" Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and 
earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to God on 
high." Amen. 

®— ^ -^ _ ® 



® ® 

298 PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING [PART II. 

" Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Israel, 
Who only doeth wondrous things 7 ." 

" And blessed be the Name of His majesty for 
ever, and all the earth shall be filled with His majes- 
ty 2 ." Amen, Amen. 

The following Hymn of Ananias, Azarias, and 
Misael, is in some Liturgies prescribed to be used af- 
ter the Blessed Eucharist. 

Tres pueri jussa Regis missi sunt in fornacem, 
non timentes flammam ignis ; at dicentes, Benedictus 
es, Domine : Hallelujah. 

1. " O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the 
Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him forever." By 
this rhetorical invocation upon all creatures, we stir 
up our minds, in, by, and for them all, to praise the 
Lord. 

2. " O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." The Angels 
are called morning-stars, for the light of their under- 
standing, which most eminently shines in their praises 
of the Lord, begun in the very morning of the Crea- 
tion, and continued to all eternity*. 

3. " O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord, praise 
Him, and magnify Him for ever." — " The Heavens 
declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth 
His, &c b ." 

4. " O ye Watersthat be above the Firmament, bless 
ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him forver." 

y Ps. Ixxii. 18. z Ver. 19. a Job xxxviii. 7 j Rev. iv. 8. b Ps. xix. 1. 
<§> -® 



<•) ® 

CHAP. XI.] AFTER THE COMMUNION. 299 

All creatures, even the most irrational, do praise the 
Lord. 1. By excitement; in that the consideration 
of their vast number, and distinct nature, their beauty 
and variety, their use and excellency, their instincts 
and operations — do excite all Angels and all men to 
revere the power, to admire the wisdom, to adore the 
greatness, to love the goodness, and to be ravished 
with the perfections of the Lord, which do so emi- 
nently appear in all the works of His hands . 2. By 
obedience ; in that all created beings do regularly 
obey the law imposed upon each, both according unto, 
and sometimes against their natural inclinations : as 
in the example of these three children in the fiery 
furnace, not consumed, which is at large declared d . 
3. By the benefit and comfort we receive from them ; 
which is therefore particularly to be considered upon 
the mention of every creature, that in and for each 
we may with the more alacrity and devotion praise 
the Lord. 

5. " O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the 
Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

6. " O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

7. " O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

8. "O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

9. " O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord, praise 
Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

c Rom. i. 19, 20. d Wisd. xvi. 17, 18. 
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® — — ® 

300 PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING [PART II. 

10. " O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord, praise 
Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

11. " O y e Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

12. " O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

13. " O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

14. " O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord, praise 
Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

15. " O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever, 

16. " O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify him for ever. 

*17. " O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the 
Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

18. " O let the Earth bless the Lord, yea, let it 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

19. " O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

20. " O all ye Green things upon the Earth, bless 
ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

21. " O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord, praise Him, 
and magnify Him for ever. 

22. " O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

23. " O ye Whales, and all that move in the 
Waters, bless ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify 
Him for ever. 

© <•> 



® — — • : ~—9 

CHAP. XI.] AFTER THE COMMUNION. 301 

24. " O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

25. " O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

26. " O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him and magnify Him for ever." After all the 
works of the Lord, man is excited to praise Him, 
Who made all things for man, and man for His praise 
in the use and consideration of them. 

27. " O let Israel bless the Lord, praise Him, and 
magnify Him for ever." But the Church and people 
of God are most specially bound to praise God in His 
works, as to Whom alone they are sanctified in their 
use, both natural and Divine. 

28. " O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, 
praise Him, and magnify Him for ever. 

29. " O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the 
Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." It is 
the constant and common work both of the Priests 
and People of God, in His Church militant. 

30. "O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, 
bless ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for 
ever." And of His Saints in His Church triumphant 
to praise the Lord*. 

31. " O ye Holy and Humble Men of heart, bless 
ye the Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." 
The humble are encouraged to praise the Lord, be- 
cause " He hath respect to the lowly : but as for the 
proud, He beholdeth them afar off f ." 

e Psalm lxxxiv. 4. f Psalm cxxxviii. 6. 

® — & 



<§>. (3) 

302 PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING [PART II. 

32. " O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the 
Lord, praise Him, and magnify Him for ever." They 
who have received any signal deliverances, are engaged 
to be the more frequent and fervent in praising the Lord, 
for their redemption both general and particular. 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the Beginning, &c. 

The Prayer. 

O God, Who didst miraculously assuage the fury 
of the fiery furnace, that it touched not to harm Thy 
three servants when cast thereinto ; vouchsafe to allay 
all exorbitant heat of concupiscence in my heart : let 
not any vicious fires inflame my affections : but quench 
them all, through faith in the Blood of my dear Re- 
deemer, and by the sweet influences of Thy holy 
Spirit, the breath of Heaven : and so shall my soul 
bless Thee, and praise Thee, and magnify Thy holy 
Name for ever. Amen. 

Blessed be the holy and undivided Trinity, now 
and for evermore. Amen. 




® — r — ® 



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-® 




MEDITATIONS 

UPON THE DWELLING OF GOD IN THE HEARTS OE HIS PEOPLE. 

There be many well-meaning persons, who de 
ceive themselves with a vain and groundless confi- 
dence, that they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost : 
and that Christ dwelleth in them after a more special 
manner than in others > who perhaps are better than 
themselves. And this comes to pass, in that such 
persons, through use and custom, have got the habit 
of speaking religiously, and that long, and much; 
whether by way of preaching or praying, wherewithal 
they are very much affected, both in themselves, and 
in all those who have the same faculty of volubility 
and boldness of speech in godly discourses and other 
acts and offices of piety. 

That all such persons, and all who desire to be 
blessed with the dwelling of God in their hearts, in 
deed and in truth, without any deceit or false imagina- 
tion of such a grand Celestial blessing, they must 
impartially examine, and seriously weigh two things ; 
which I conceive very useful to be added as a corollary 
to the former treatise of self-examination. 

1. It is to be examined and considered, how the 
heart of every true Christian is to be prepared and 



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- — • — — ® 

304 MEDITATIONS. [PART II, 

disposed for the peculiar reception and entertainment 
of the Divine Presence. 

2. What are the infallible workings, issues, and 
effects of God's special Presence in the heart, by 
which only it is discernible. 

As to the first, it is a maxim in nature, That 
every thing is either more of less received, according 
to the disposition and qualification of the receiver. 

Those qualifications of human souls, which fit 
them for the habitation of the Divine Majesty, must 
be such as are Divine also. 

And these are, 1, Faith: the which as it is the 
first ground and foundation of all holy and true reli- 
gion, so it is the first qualification of the heart for the 
special Presence of Christ, " Who dwelleth in our 
hearts by faithV 

2. Humility, and a devout compunction of heart : 
i( Thus saith the Lord, I will dwell with him that is of 
an humble and contrite spirit"." 

3. Innocence, and purity of spirit : " Blessed are 
the pure in spirit, for they shall see God\" And if 
none (saith Aug.) but the pure in spirit shall see 
God, then surely none but such shall enjoy His 
Presence : " For into a malicious soul Wisdom shall 
not enter, nor dwell in the body that is subject unto 
sinV 

4. Charity, or divine love, which is the life of 
a true faith; " for faith worketh by love k ," viz., 

t Eph. iiL 17. g Isa^ lvii. 15. h Matt. v. 8. 

i Wisd. i. 4. k Gal. v. 6. 



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e 



® 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 305 

by love to God above all, and by love to thy neigh- 
bour as thyself; " God is love ; and he who dwelleth 
in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him 1 ." 

5. Obedience to the commands of Christ, which 
is inseparable from the true love of God; " If any 
man love Me, he will keep My words : and My Fa- 
ther will love him, and We will come unto him, and 
make Our abode with him' 1 '." 

This promise being in the plural number express- 
ed, implies the soul thus divinely qualified, to be the 
dwelling-place of all the Three Persons of the blessed 
Trinity ; the First Person as a Father, the Second as a 
Brother, the Third as a Spouse to the sanctified soul : 
wherein God the Father dwells by " adoption and 
grace;" God the Son, by " redemption and peace;" 
God the Holy Ghost, by " illumination and holiness :" 
and all Three inhabit such blessed souls as their 
Temple, " which is the habitation of God's holiness, 
and the place where His Honour dwelleth' 1 ." 

The soul thus honoured and beautified with the 
Celestial Presence of the Triune God, tianscends 
both in dignity and beauty the very utmost glory of 
the Heavens themselves : not the brightness of the 
sun, nor the lustre of the moon, nor the sparkling 
splendour of the stars, nor any thing within or under 
the cope of Heaven, can equal such a soul in excel- 
lency and honour. Therefore said our Lord, " What 
shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose 
his own soul?" implying the soul that is sanctified 

1 1 John iv. 16. m John xiv. 23. n Psalm xxxi. 8. o Matt. xvi. 26. 

20 
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306 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

by the Divine Presence, to exceed in value the whole 
world besides. 



MEDITATION I. 

That I may be qualified, and my soul fitted and 
disposed for the entertainment of her Lord, it highly 
concerns me to consider what course I must take, 
and to whom I must have recourse for assistance, 
and for a blessing upon my desires and endeavours 
herein. 

" Call now, if there be any that will answer thee, 
and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn r ?" 

" O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall 
all flesh comeV 

It is from Thee, O Lord, and by Thee alone, that 
my soul must be fitted and disposed for Thee. 

Those graces that render the souls of men capa- 
ble of Thy joyful Presence, do not naturally spring 
and grow therein. Thy sacred Image at first en- 
stamped in my soul, is so defaced and deflowered by 
original corruption, as renders her incapable of any 
good and perfect gift, but what " descends from 
above, from the Father of lights'." 

Thou, O Lord, hast in some measure enriched 
my soul with the precious jewels of faith, hope, and 
charity ; and I am hereby encouraged further to beg 
the increase and more enlivening of my faith, the 

p Job v. L q Psalm lxv. 2. r James i. 17. 
® ' ® 



® ® 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 307 

strengthening and more confirming of my hope, and 
that my charity may be inflamed with greater and 
more and more celestial ardours, to the extinguishing 
of all the false fires of terrene affections : and even 
thus qualified, I most humbly acknowledge myself 
unworthy Thou should est come under my roof; but 
alas ! I should then be most miserable whilst destitute 
of Thy Presence with me. 

And therefore in all humility, with all reverence 
and godly fear, with an entire submission and devo- 
tion of myself to Thy good pleasure, I do now open 
the door of my heart, that it may please Thee to en- 
ter and take possession, and abide with Thy servant 
for ever, so may I triumphing say, "The Lord is my 
Light, and my Salvation, whom then shall I fear? 
The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom then 
shall I be afraid"?" "When the wicked, even mine 
enemies and my foes come upon me to eat up my flesh, 
they stumbled and fell 1 ." 

It is not all the temptations and assaults of any 
sort of enemies, ghostly or bodily, can in the least 
prevail to my harm, whilst I enjoy "the Lord for my 
strong Rock and Defence, my Saviour, my God and 
my Might, in Whom I will trust the Horn also of my 
salvation, and my Refuge." 

" There shall no evil happen unto thee, neither 
shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling 11 ,' ' whilst I 
" dwell under the defence of the Most High, and abide 
under the shadow of the Almighty V 

8 Psalm xxvii. L t Ver. 2. u Psalm xci. 10. x Psalm xci. 1. 
® — & 



@~ — — _ ® 

308 MEDITATIONS. [PART H. 

Or how can I fear the want of any thing that con- 
cerns my being or well-being, my life, my health, my 
happiness, whilst He vouchsafes His Presence with 
me, Who is the Life and Light of the world, and the 
Fountain of salvation; with " Whom is the well of 
life, and in W T hose light we shall see light". " 

" The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore can I lack 
nothing : He shall feed me in a green pasture, and 
lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. 

" Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; for Thou art 
with me\" 

And now may I not in all humility demand of my 
Blessed Lord, Where was Thy dwelling-place, before 
it pleased Thee to condescend so low as to take up 
Thy abode in my heart ? 

It was " high and holy, the habitation of eterni- 
tyV dwelling in Thyself, and in the fulness of Thine 
own perfections most perfectly happy. 

It was I, poor miserable creature, that could not 
live without Thee, nor enjoy the least glimmering of 
true consolation, but in the light of Thy Presence 
with me. 

" Whom have I in Heaven but Thee? and there 
is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of 
Thee 7 ." 

All that I enjoy besides my God, is contemptible 
and vile, and fills not my desires, satiates not the 



w Psalm xxxvi. 9. x Psalra xxiii. 1 — 4. y Isaiah lvii. 15. 

z Psalra lxxiii. 24. 

© — ~ — — —______$ 



® — ® 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 3C9 

thirsting of my heart, allays not the famine of my soul, 
which -being stamped after the image of her Creator, 
is not, cannot be satisfied with the greatest fulness of 
created beings. 

"My heart and my flesh faintethY' My flesh 
will soon corrupt and cease to be the burden of my 
soul, and my heart will be swallowed up of horror and 
despair, " but that God is the strength of my heart, 
and my portion for ever.' ; 



MEDITATION II. 

How and after what manner God vouchsafes es- 
pecially to dwell in the hearts of His people, to the 
abounding of their consolation, and endless happiness, 
can be no otherwise known, but by the influence and 
operations of His Presence ; as fire by its heat, the 
sun by its light, the tree by its fruit, and the cause 
by its effects. 

The great and general end of this Divine Pres- 
ence, is to regenerate and assimilate the spirit of man 
to the Holy Spirit of God; to render the carnal mind 
spiritual ; the earthly to become a Heavenly-minded 
soul; to mould that nature, which is in itself merely 
human, into a Divine and Celestial temper, or, in the 
words of the Apostle, to be " made partakers of the 
Divine nature ." As for instance : 

1. "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at 
all c :" and such are all the blessed souls in whom He 

a Psalm lxxiii. 25. b 2 Pet. i. 4. c 1 John i. 5. 

® " © 



®_— ® 

310 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

resides, they " are children of the light and of the 
day, not of the night and of darknessV 

Their understandings are enlightened to know 
God, both in the perfections of His nature, and in the 
ways of His service : The several parts of Whose Di 
vine Service, are no other but the several ways of 
man's salvation ; and this salvation is attained in the 
imitation and representation of the Divine perfec- 
tions : " Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father 
Which is in Heaven is perfect'." 

This light of the faith of God's elect, is not hid 
under a bushel, but shines before men, in all the 
good works of soberness, righteousness, and godli- 
ness, to the glory of God, the Father of lights f . 

2. " God is a consuming fire ;" and accordingly 
the souls possessed by Him, are purged as with fire, 
from the sordid dross and dregs of all brutish affec- 
tions, and irrational appetites, and from whatsoever is 
offensive to the eyes of God's Majesty. 

Their desires are purified as by fire, from all sloth 
and negligence, and quickened in the ways of right- 
eousness and life. 

Their hearts are inflamed with the sacred fires of 
Divine love, of a holy discreet zeal, and fervent devo- 
tion in their prayers unto God, and praises of Him. 

And as fire imprints its own nature upon every 
thing it seizeth upon; so doth the Lord conform the 
soul He possesseth into His own likeness and Divine 
perfections. 

d 1 Thea. v. 5. e Matt. v. 48. f Matt. v. 16. 
® @ 



® . — © 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 311 

3. " God is the Fountain of living waters 7 ;" and 
where He especially dwells, He allays the heat of car- 
nal concupiscence, subdues the inordinate love of 
riches, quencheth the fires of strife and contention, 
of blind zeal and faction, of malice and hatred, envy, 
and every exorbitant lust, as being Himself the full 
satisfaction of all the vast desires of the immortal 
souls. 

4. " God is all purity and holiness, goodness and 
mercy, justice and truth," and, in a word, the sum- 
mary of all perfection and felicity ; and therefore all 
those happy souls wherein He dwells, are pure as He 
is pure, merciful as He is merciful, righteous and 
just, good, gracious, and long-suffering; " forgiving 
one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath for- 
given you h ." 

It is thus the decayed Image of God in the souls 
of men is renewed ; it is thus the sons of men are 
regenerate and born again, and become the sons of 
God, " being followers of God as dear children," by 
imitating the perfections, and representing the excel- 
lencies of the Godhead, in the innocence and purity, 
piety and charity, both of the heart and of the life, 
fulfilling that all-perfect rule of Christian perfection, 
" Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy 1 ." 

g Jer. ii. 13. h Eph, iv. 32. i 1 Pet. i. 16. 



<•> ™ " — — ® 



®- — ® 

312 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

MEDITATION III. 

HOLY BREATHINGS OF THE DEVOUT SOUL AFTER GOD. 

"As the hart," hunted and wearied, " panteth 
after the water-brooks," for refuge and refreshment ; 
" so my soul," in her weary pilgrimage here upon 
earth, " longeth after Thee, O God': in Whom the 
weary find rest, and the persecuted succour and sup- 
port. 

" My soul is athirst for God, even for the living 
God'," the Fountain of living waters, even of all the 
most full satisfactions and consolations of life and 
immortality. 

" When shall I come to appear before the Presence 
of God?" 

O my God, when will that happy hour come, when 
I shall be satisfied with Thy Presence, when I shall 
love Thee with the most seraphic fervour, worship 
Thee with the greatest devotion and reverence my 
soul can exhibit, wherein I shall fear and adore Thee, 
serve and praise Thee with all my might, which is my 
most earnest desire and bounden duty ? 

When will that happy hour come, wherein I shall 
so truly die unto the world, and die unto myself, that 
I may solely and wholly live unto God ? that my God 
may be my all, and in all, even all my hope and desire, 
all my joy and delight, my Glory and my Worship, 
my Light and my Life, my Strength and my Health, 

k Psalm xlii. 1. 1 Ver. 2. 
® ® 



(8) 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 313 

my Defence and my Shield, my Leader and my 
Guide ; so as that I neither eat or drink, sleep or 
wake, move or act any thing, having not my eyes fixed 
first upon Heaven for direction and a blessing therein ? 

Until this happy hour come, I must not hope to 
enjoy any true, solid contentment, which is not at- 
tainable but in the presence of God. 

And whilst I rove and ramble in my imaginations 
and desires after any the exterior consolations of the 
creature, I meet with nothing but disappointments of 
my hope, with perpetual disquietude and perturbation, 
which they shall never want, who think they can be 
happy without Thee my God. 

II. 

" As for me, I will behold The presence in right- 
eousness' 1 ." I cannot otherwise hope, but in right- 
eousness to enjoy the Presence of my God ; "for He 
is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." 

Awaken, blessed Lord, awaken my soul from off 
the soft bed of carnal security, and of all slothful- 
ness and negligence : that I may be both entirely and 
zealously devoted to thy service, in all the powers and 
parts, faculties and appetites, affections and actions 
both of my soul and body, resolving rather to die a 
thousand deaths than wilfully to transgress any of Thy 
most holy laws; and to die in earnest, if occasion be 
offered, for the honour of Thy Name, Which is Great, 
Wonderful, and Holy. 

m Psalm xvii. 15. 
® , ________ © 



®— . @ 

314 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

O may I thus, may I resolvedly thus, steadfastly 
thus, " behold Thy Presence in righteousness ; and 
when I awake up after Thy likeness, I shall be satis- 
fied with it." 

III. 

" O God, Thou art my God m ," and my all, even 
all that I am, and all that I have, and all that I hope 
to be or to enjoy. " Early will I seek Thee :" in the 
morning of the day, in the morning of my life, in the 
morning light of Divine grace, whereby I am excited 
both early and late to seek Thee. 

" My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh also longeth 
after TheeY' that my flesh being subject to the spirit, 
both soul and body may rejoice in Thee ; not in the 
world, for that is " a barren and dry land where no 
water is ;" affording no waters of consolation, but 
such as clog and cloy, but allay not the thirst of the 
soul. Therefore, 

" Thus have I waited for Thee in holiness" :" and 
O that I could wait for Thee, and wait upon Thee, 
with such separate affections from all sensuality and 
earthiness, that I might " behold Thy power," which 
is chiefly manifested in showing mercy and pity ; and 
Thy glory, even the glory of Thy grace here, which 
leads to eternal glory hereafter. 

" For Thy loving-kindness is better than life it- 
self 1 ." It is all the joy and comfort of my life, with- 
out which, my life of nature is but a living death, 

n Psalm lxiii, 1. o Ver. 2. p Ver. 3. q Ver. 4. 

<•> <•> 



® ® 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 315 

and my life of grace without any quickening vigour. 
In the mean time, " my lips shall praise Thee ;" and 
this is an effect of Thy loving-kindness, moving my 
heart to dictate to my lips to praise Thy Name. 

" Blessed is the people, O Lord, that can rejoice 
in Thee ; they shall walk in the light of Thy counte- 
nance. 

" Their delight shall be daily in Thy Name : and 
in Thy righteousness shall they make their boast. 

" For Thou art the glory of their strength : and 
in Thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns. 

" For the Lord is our Defence : the holy One of 
Israel is our KingV 5 

" O save Thy people, and give Thy blessing unto 
Thine inheritance : feed them, and set them up for 
ever 8 ." 

" Our Father, Which art in Heaven, &c. 



MEDITATIONS 

UPON UNITY IN THE PUBLIC WORSHIP OF GOD. 

1. " Such as be truly members of Christ's Mysti- 
cal Body, the holy Catholic Church, do conceive that 
they ought to be unanimous in the service of God, as 
the only way upon earth to partake of the benefits of 
the Communion of Saints. 

2. " That we should all join in prayers unto God, 
after one way, and one manner, is not only command- 

r Psalm lxxxix. 16 — 19. s Psalm xxviii. 10. 
® — ® 



(8)- @ 

316 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

ed by our Lord, Matthew vi. 9, but also in the use of 
the same words, Luke xi. 2, whereunto also we are 
admonished, Rom. xv. 6, that " ye may with one mind 
and with one mouth glorify God even the Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. " 

3. It is observable by sad experience, that variety 
of prayers in public, by Ministers of the same Church, 
hath bred and so doth still foment variety in opinions : 
and various opinions in religion have bred such a con- 
trariety of affections, as hath dissolved all the bonds of 
Christian charity. 

4. Under the sad pressure of this schism we have 
a long time groaned and been brought even to the 
last gasp of expiration : nor can we hope to have the 
still bleeding wounds of our divisions healed (what- 
ever other remedies may be prescribed) till waiving 
that fondness which most men have for private pray- 
ers in a public congregation, we do all join with reve- 
rence and devotion in those holy prayers, and divine- 
ly-inspired praises of God, which are prescribed, and 
have been practised in the Church of Christ, in all the 
ages thereof. 

5. We cannot reasonably imagine that our various 
and multitudinous private prayers in public, do con- 
duce to the more pleasing of God, Who requires no 
such service from us, and cannot be pleased with such 
prayers as are breaches of our solemn promises, when 
ordained Ministers of the Church : no, alas ! such 
prayers are not to please God, but to please men, to 
tickle the itching ears of men of corrupt minds : and 

® — ® 



® (•) 

CHAP. XI.] MEDITATIONS. 317 

it is the scratching of these ears that hath brought 
such a scab upon the Church, as hath festered, and 
eaten into her bowels, and endangered the very life 
and being thereof. 

6. We all profess to worship one God in Trinity, 
and this Trinity in Unity ; but this we do not, nay, 
this we cannot do, without unity and unanimity and 
uniformity in our Divine Worship : but this unity is 
destroyed, by dividing from that sound and orthodox 
worship which the Church of Christ exhibits to her 
Lord : whilst each man advances his own private con- 
ceptions in prayer, above, if not in opposition, to the 
public commanded Forms. 

7. God, whose very Being is Unity, is the Author 
and great Lover of Unity, especially in the worship of 
His Divine Majesty : and the devil is the author and 
great promoter of all division ; it is his very being, as 
he is a devil ; for he became so, by dividing from the 
Church of God, viz., from the Church which is now 
triumphant in Heaven : and therefore his instruments 
they are, who either in doctrine or worship divide 
from the true Church of Christ here militant upon 
earth. 




<S>— — ~ ' — — — ' — ■ — © 



<•) © 

318 MEDITATIONS. [PART II. 

PSALM CXXXIII. PARAPHRASED. 

1. " Behold how good and joyful a thing it is," 
both profitable and pleasant, " for brethren," sons of 
one God the Father, and of one Church the Mother, 
" to dwell together in unity :" in the House of God 
to join as members of the same mystical Body, in the 
profession of the same doctrine, and practice of the 
same worship. 

2. "It is like the precious ointment," which 
being composed of many rich perfumes, sent forth a 
most sweet odour : fitly representing that sweetness 
of joy and complacence which flows from the union 
of many hearts and voices in the service of God : 
" upon the head, which went down to the beard, even 
Aaron's beard: Aaron was a type of Christ : and 
the " ointment upon his head," typified the spiritual 
unction of Christ, our Head 1 , which unction of the 
spirit from Him descended upon His Apostles, mys- 
tically signified by the High-Priest's beard, as being 
nearest to the head : and from thence " went down 
to the skirts of his clothing," even to all the other 
parts and members of His mystical body: "For of 
His fulness we have all received, grace for grace' 1 ." 

3. " As the dew of Hermon, which fell on the 
hill of Sion :" as both these hills become fruitful by 
the dew of Heaven descending on them; so the 
sons of Sion, or people of God, become fruitful 



t Psalm xlv. 7 j Heb. i. 9. u John i. 16. 

5 



-« 



®- 



-® 



CHAP. XI.] 



MEDITATIONS. 



319 



in the gifts and graces of God's Holy Spirit, 
through their unity and unanimity in the devout ser- 
vice of God ; for whilst they glorify God, and with 
one mouth, after one way and one manner, they 
mightily prevail with the One only God to dwell 
amongst them, according to His promise v . And so 
it follows : " for there the Lord promised His bless- 
ing," in all assemblies thus united in the service of 
His Majesty'"', which is undoubtedly the way to cc life 
for evermore,' 5 which is the height and perfection of 
all the blessings of God in the choir of Heaven, to 
sing with concordant hearts and voices, 

Glory be to the Father, &c. 

As it was in the beginning, &c. 

The Prayer. 

O God, Who art the Author of peace, and Lover 
of concord, Who makest men to be of one mind in a 
house, and art best pleased with the unanimous agree- 
ment of Thy people in Thy House of Prayer ; that 
it may please Thee to rebuke that foul spirit of dis-- 
cord and division intermixed amongst us, which 
, dictates the building of Babel, by the confusion of 
languages in our addresses to the Throne of Grace : 
and vouchsafe to send the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of 
love and unity, to unite our hearts and tongues 
in the public service of Thy sacred Majesty ; make 
us all as brethren to dwell together in unity, to join 
in our prayers in one way and after one manner, 



v 2 Cor. vi. 16. 



-vv Matt, xviii. 19, 20. 



®- 



-® 



®- 



-® 



320 



MEDITATIONS. 



[part II. 



to glorify Thee with one heart and with one mouth, 
that the Celestial dew of Thy blessing may descend 
upon us so plentifully, to -bring forth the fruits of the 
Spirit, that we may reap in time of harvest life for 
evermore, through Jesus Christ, &,c. 




®- 



© 



BOOKS 

IN THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS 

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AND 

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HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION 
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. By Gilbert Burnet, 
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To the student either of civil or religious history no epoch can be of more 
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The History of Bishop Burnet is one of the most celebrated and by far 
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BURNET ON THE XXXIX. ARTICLES'. 

An Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of Eng- 
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37£ cents— gilt edges 50 cents. 

" These meditations, prayers, and expositions, are given in the very words of the illustrt- 
©ua divines, martyrs, confessors, and doctors of the Church; and they form altogether 
such a body of instructive matter as is nowhere else to be found in the same com- 
pass. Though collected from various authors, the whole is pervaded by a unity of spirit and 
purpose; and we most earnestly commend the work as better fitted than any other which 
we know, to subserve the ends of sound edification and fervent and substantial devotion. 
The American reprint bas been edited by a deacon of great promise in the Church, and is ap« 
propriately dedicated to the Bishop of this diocese."— Churchman, 

OGILBY ON LAY-BAPTISM: 

An Outline on the Argument against the Validity of Lay-Baptism. By the 
Rev. John D. Ogilby, A.M., Professor of Ecclesiastical History. On© 
volume 12mo., 75 cents. 

«' We have been favoured with a copy of the above work, and lose no time in announcing 
its publication. From a cursory inspection of it, we take it to be a thorough, fearless, and 
very able discussion of the subject which it proposes, aiming less to excite inquiry, than to 
satisfy, by learned and ingenious argument, inquiries already excited." — Churchman. 

THE PRIMITIVE DOCTRINE OF 
ELECTI O N : 

Or, an Historical Inquiry into the Ideality and Causation of Scriptural 
Election, as received and maintained in the Primitive Church of Christ, 
By George Stanley Faber, B.D., author of " Difficulties of Romanism," 
"Difficulties of Infidelity," &c. Complete in one volume octavo. $1 75. 

' " Mr. Faber verifies bis opinion by demonstration. We cannot pay a higher respect to hi& 
WOlk than by recommending it to all."— Church of England Quarterly Review. 



D. Appleton $- Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 5 

CHURCHMAN'S LIBRARY. 

The volumes of this series are of a standard character and highly recom- 
mended by the Bishops and Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church. 

THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN; 

Or, Devout Penitent. By R. Sherlocke, D.D., with a Life of the Author, by 
the Right Rev. Bishop Wilson. One elegant volume. 16mo. 75 cents. 

THE CHURCHMAN'S COMPANION IN THE CLOSET ; 

Or, a Complete Manual of Private Devotions. Collected from the writings of 
Archbishop Laud, Bishop Andrewes, Bishop Ken, Dr. Hickes, Mr. Kettle- 
well, Mr. Spinckes, and other eminent old English Divines. With a Pre- 
face by Rsv. Mr. Spinckes. Edited by Francis E. Paget, M. A. One ele- 
gant volume, 16mo. $1 00. 

OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST. 

Four books, by Thomas a Kempis, a new and complete edition, elegantly 
printed. 1 vol. 16mo. $1 00. 

THE EARLY ENGLISH CHURCH; 

Or, Christian History of England in early British, Saxon, and Norman Times. 
By the Rev. Edward Churton, M.A. With a Preface by the Right Rev. 
Bishop Ives. 1 vol. 16mo., elegantly ornamented. $1 00 

LEARN TO DIE, 

Disce Mori, Learn to Die : a Religious Discourse, moving every Christian 
man to enter into a serious Remembrance of his End. By Christopher Sut- 
ton, D.D., late Prebend of Westminster. 1 vol. 16mo., elegantly orna- 
mented, $1 00. 

SACRA PRIVATA: 

The Private Meditations, Devotions, and Prayers of the Right Rev. T. Wil- 
son, D.D., Lord Bishop of Soder and Man. First complete edition. 1 vol. 
royal 16mo., elegantly ornamented. $1 00. 

MEDITATIONS ON TH E SACRAM ENT. 

Godly Meditations upon the most Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. By 
Christopher Sutton, D.D., late Prebend of Westminster. 1 vol. royal 16mo., 
elegantly ornamented. $1 00. 

A DISCOURSE CONCERNING PRAYER 

And the frequenting Daily Public Prayer. By Symon Patrick, D.D., sometime 
Lord Bishop of Ely. Edited by Francis E. Paget, M.A., Chaplain to the 
Lord Bishop of Oxford. 1 vol. royal 16mo., elegantly ornamented. 75 cents. 

THOUGHTS IN PAST YEARS. 

A beautiful collection of Poetry, chiefly Devotional. By the author of " The 
Cathedral." 1 vol. royal 16mo., elegantly printed. $1 25. 

THE CHRISTMAS BELLS s 

A Tale of Holy Tide, and other Poems. By the author of " Constance/' 
"Virginia," &c. 1 vol. royal 16mo., elegantly ornamented. 75 cents. - 

u %* These volumes will be followed by others of equal importance, i 



8 £>. Appteton $ Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 
SCRIPTURE AND GEOLOGY.' 

On the Relation between the Holy Scriptures and some parts of Geological 
Science. By John Pye Smith, D.D., author of the " Scripture Testimony 
of the Messiah," &c. &c. 1 vol. 12mo. $1 25. 

" The volume consists of eight lectures, to which are appended seventy 
pages of supplementary notes. The first lecture is introductory; the second 
is scientifically descriptive of the principal topics of geological science ; the 
third includes a research into the creation of our globe ; the fourth and fifth 
lectures comprise an examination of the deluge ; the sixth discusses the appa- 
rent dissonance between the decisions of geologists, and the hitherto re- 
ceived interpretation of Scripture, with an additional exposition of the diluvial 
theory ; the seventh is devoted to illustration of the method to interpret the 
Scriptures, so that they may harmonize with the discoveries of geology ; the 
eighth is the peroration of the whole disquisition. 

WORKS BY THE REV. DR. SPRAGUE. 

TRUE AND FALSE RELIGION. 

Lectures illustrating the Contrast between True Christianity and various 
other systems. By William B. Sprague, D.D. 1 vol. 12mo. $100. 

LECTURES ON REVIVALS IN RELIGION. 

By W. B. Sprague, D.D. With an Introductory Essay by Leonard 
Woods, D.D. 1 vol. 12mo. 871 cents. 

LETTERS TO A DAUGHTER 

On Practical Subjects. By W. B. Sprague, D.D. Fourth edition, revised 
and enlarged. 1 vol. 12mo. 75 cents. 

LECTURES TO YOUNG PEOPLE. 

By W. B. Sprague, D.D. With an Introductory Address. By Samuel 
MilLer, D.D. Fourth edition. 1 vol. 12mo. 87£ cents. 
The writings of Dr. Sprague are too well known, and too highly estimated 
by the Christian community generally, to require any other encomium than 
is furnished by their own merits ; for this reason it is thought unnecessary to 
subjoin the favourable testimonies borne to their utility and excellence by the 
whole circle of the periodical press of this country, and the fact, that they 
have each passed through several editions in England, sufficiently attests the 
estimation in which they are held abroad. 

SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANITY. 

Lectures on Spiritual Christianity. By Isaac Taylor, author of " Spiritual 
Despotism," &c. &c. 1 vol 12mo. 75 cents. 
"This work is the production of one of the most gifted and accomplished 
minds of the present age. ff some of his former productions may have been 
thought characterized by too much metaphysical abstraction, and in some in- 
stances, by speculations of doubtful importance the present volume is, we 
think, in no degree liable to this objection. It is indeed distinguished for deep 
thought and accurate discrimination: and whoever would read it to advantage, 
must task his faculties in a much higher degree, than in reading ordinary 
books: and yet it contains nothing which an ordinary degree of intelligence 
and application may not readily comprehend. The view which it gives of 
Christianity, both as a system of truth and a system of duty, is in the highest 
degree instructive ; and its tendencies are not less to quicken the intellectual 
faculties, than to direct and elevate the moral sensibilities. We have no doubt 
that it will be read with great interest by those who read to find materials 
for thought, and that it is destined to exert a most important influence, espe- 
cially on the more intellectual classes in the advancement of the interests of 
truth and piety."— Albany Evening Journal, 



D. Apple ton $- Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 

Works by Rev. Robert Philip. 



YOUNG MAN'S CLOSET LIBRARY. 

By Robert Philip. With an Introductory Essay by Rev. Albert Barnes. 1 vol, 
12rno. $1 00. 

LOVE 0? TlfE SPIRIT, Traced in his Work : a Companion to the Ex- 
perimental Guides. By Robert Philip. 1 vol. 18mo. 50 cts. 

DEVOTIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL GUIDES. By Robert rhilip, 
With an Introductory Essay by Rev. Albert Barnes. 2 vols. 12mo. $1 75-, 
Containing : 



Guide to the Perplexed. 
Do. do. Devotional. 
Do. do. Thoughtful. 



Guide to the Doubting. 
Do. do. Conscientious. 
Do. do. Redemption. 



LADY'S CLCSET LIBRARY. 

as follows: 
THE MARYS ; or Beauty of Female Holiness. By Robert Philip. 1 vol 

18mo. 50 cents. 
THE MARTHAS; or Varieties of Female Piety. By Robert Philip. 1 vol 

18mo. 50 cts. 

THE LYDIAS ; or Development of Female Character. By Robert Philip 
1 vol. 18mo. 50 cts. 

The Maternal Series of the above popular Library is now ready, entitled, 

THE HANNAHS j or Maternal Influence of Sons. By Robert Philip, 
1 vol. 18mo. 50 cts. 

" The author of this work is known to the public as one of the most prolific writers of the 
da}', and scarcely any writer in the department which he occupies, haa acquired so exten- 
sive and well-merited a popularity. The present volume, as its title denotes, is devoted to 
an illustration of the influence of mothers on their eons; and the subject is treated with the 
same originality and beauty which characterize the author's other works. It will be found 
to be a moat delightful and useful companion in the nurseij', and its influence can hardly 
fail to be felt; first, in quickening the sense of responsibility on the part of mothers; and 
next, in forming the character of the rising generation to a higher standard of intelligence 
and virtue."— Evangelist. 



GEMS FROM TRAVELLERS. 

Illustrative of various passages in the Holy Scripture, with nearly one hundred 
Engravings. Among the authorities quoted will be found the following dis- 
tinguished names : Harmer, Laborde, Lane, Madden, Clarke, Pococke, 
Chandler, Mai com, Hartley, Russel, Jowitt, Came, Shaw, Morier, Neibuhr, 
Bruce, Calmet, II. Blunt, Belzoni, Lord Lindsay, &c. &c. 1vol. 12mo. 
$1 00. 

" The Holy Scriptures contain many passages full of importance and beauty, but not ge- 
nerally uaderstood, because they contain allusion to manners and customs, familiar indeed 
to those to whom they were originally addressed, but imperfectly known to us. In older to 
obviate this difficulty, this volume is now presented to the public, consisting of extracts ftom 
the narratives of travellers who have recorded the customs of the oriental nations, from 
whom we learn that some usages were retained among them to this day, such as existed at 
the times when the Scriptures were written, and that these name3 are in many instances 
little changed since the patriarchal times. The compiler of this volume trusts that it may be 
the means, under God's providence, of leading unlearned readaTs to a more general ao 
qiiaintariee with Eastern customs, and assist them to a clearer perception of the propriety 
and beauty of the illustrations so often drawn from them in the Bible, 



7). Appleton ty Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 

Works by the Rev. John Angell James. 

THE TRUE CHRISTIAN. 
By the Rev. John Angell James. With an Introduction by the Rev. Wm. 

Adams. 1 vol. 18tno $0 50. 

" We opine that t!ie publishers of this volume made an accurate calculation when they 
labelled these ' Addresses' — stereotyped; for they are ^rnong the choice effusions which 
already have so highly benefited Christian Bociety from the nob<e heart and richly- 
endowed mind of Mr. James. They are ministerial counsels to the members of uis congre 
gation, and are offered as monthly epistles for a year, being twelve in number, and are thus 
entitled: 'Increased Holiness of the Church; Spirituality of Mind : Heavenly Minded- 
ness; Assurance of Hope; Practical Religion sven in every thing; A Profitable Sabbath; 
■Christian Obligations ; Life of Faith; Influence of elder Christians; Spint of Prayer ; Pri- 
vate Prayer, and Self-Examinatioti.' "—Christian Intelligencer. 

THE YOUNG- MAN FROM HOME. 
In a series of' Letters, especially directed for the Moral Advancement of Youth. 

By the Rev. John Angell James. Tenth edition. 1 vol. 18mo. * 37? cts. 

"This work, from the able and prolific pen of Mr. James, is not inferior, we think, to any 
of its predecessors. It contemplates a young man at the moat critical period of life, and 
meets him at every point a3 a guide in the paths of virtue, as a guard from the contagious 
influence of vice." — Albany Advertiser. 

THE CHRISTIAN PROFESSOR, 

Addressed in a series of Counsels and Cautions to the Members of Christian 
Churches. By the Rev. John Angell James. 1 vol. 18mo. 62f cents. 
" The author remarks in this excellent volume: 'Wheal look into the New Testament 
and read what a Christian should be, and then look into the Church of God, and see what 
Christians are, I am painfully affected by observing the dissimilarity ; and in my jealousy for 
the honour of the Christian profession, have made this effort, perhaps a feeble one, and cer- 
tainiy an anxious one, to remove its blemishes, to restore its impaired beauty, and thus raise 
its reputation.' " 

THE ANXIOUS ENQUIRER AFTER SALVATION 

Directed and Encouraged. By the Rev. John Angell James. 1 vol. 

18mo. 37? cents. 

Twenty thousand copies of this excellent little volume have already been 

sold, which fully attests the high estimation the work has attained with the 

religious community. 

HAPPINESS, ITS NATURE AND SOURCES. 

By the Rev. J. A. James. 1 vol. 32rno. 25 cents. 

" This is written m the excellent author's best vein. He has, with a searching fidelity, 

exposed the various unsatisfying expedients by which the natural heart seeks to attain the 

great end and aim of all — happiness, and with powerful and touching exhortations directed it 

to the never-failing source of all good." — Evangelist. 

THE WIDOW DIRECTED 
To the Widow's G-od. By the Rev. John A. James. 1 vol. 18mo. 37? cents. 

" The book is worthy to be read by others besides the class for which it is especially de- 
signed ; and we doubt not that it destined to come as a friendly visitor to many a house of 
mourning, and as a healing bulm to many a wounded heart" — N. Y. Observer. 

CRUDEN'S CONCORDANCE. 

Containing all the Words to be found in the large Work relating to the New 
Testament* ,1 vol. 18mo. 50 cents. 

THE POLYMIORIAN NEW TESTAMENT. 
Numerous References, Maps, &c. 1 vol. 18mo. 50 cents 

THE SACRED CHOIR: 

A COLLECTION OF CHURCH MUSIC: 

Consisting of Selections from the most distinguished authors, among whom 
are the names of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Pergolessi, &c. &c. ; 
with several pieces of Music by the author ; also a Progressive Elementary 
System of Instruction for Pupils. By George Kingsley, author of ths So- 
cial Choir, &c. &c Fourth edition $0 75 



D. Appleton $> Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 

Cabinet Edition of the Poets. 



COWPEFTS COMPLETE POETICAL 
WORKS. 

The complete Poetical Works of William Cowper, Esq., including 
Hymns and Translations from Mad. Guion, Milton, &c, and 
Adam, a Sacred Drama, from the Italian of Battista Andreini, 
with a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Henry Stebbmg, A.M. 
Two elegantly printed volumes, 400 pages each, I6mo., with 
beautiful frontispieces. 81 75. 

This ts the only complete American edition. 
ty never found in genius a more devoted advocate than Cowper, nor 
has moral wisdom, in its j>iain and severe precepts, been evermore success- 
fully combined with the delicate spirit of poetry, than in his works. He 
was endowed with all the powers which a poet eould want who was to be the 
moralist of the world — the reprover, but not the satirist, of men — the teacher 
of simple truths, which were to be rendered gracious without endangering 
their simplicity. 

BURNS' COMPLETE POETICAL 
WORKS. 

The complete Poetical Works of Robert Bums, with Explanatory 
and Glossarial iS'otes, and a Life of the Author, by James Cur- 
M.D. 1 vol. 16mo. $1 25. 

This is the most complete edition which hers been published, and contains 
the whole of the poetry comprised in the edition lately edited by Cunningham, 
as well as some additiona. pieces ; and such notes have been added as are cal- 
culated to illustrate the manners and customs of Scotland, so as to render the 
who'e more intelligible to the English reader. 

;^et, with the exception of Shakspeare, ever possessed the power of 
exciting the most varied and discordant emotions with such rapid transitions." 
— Sir W. Scott. 

MILTON'S COMPLETE POETICAL 
WORKS. 

The complete Poetical Works of John Milton, with Explanatory 
Xotes and a Life of the Author, by the Rev. Henry Stebbing, 
A.M. Beautifully illustrated. 1 Vol. 16mo. 8125. 
The Latin and Italian Poems are included in this edition. 
Mr. S HI be found very useful in elucidating the learned 

allusions with which the text abounds, and they are also valuable 
correct appreciation with which the writer direets attention to the beau- 
lies of the aul 

SCOTT'S POETICAL WORKS. 

The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. — Containing Lay 
of the Last Minstrel, Marmion, Lady of the Lake, Don Rode- 
rick, Rokebv, Ballads, Lyrics, and Songs, with a Life of the 
Author. Uniform with Cowper, Bums, &c. 1 vol. 16mo 81 25. 
iter Scott is the most popular of all the poets of the present day, and de- 
servedly so. He describes that which is most easily and generally understood 
with more vivacity and effect than any other writer. His style is clear, flowing 
and transparent ; his sentiments, of which his style is an easy and natural me 
Ut common to him with his readers.''— Hazliit. 



10 2X Appleton § CoSs Catalogue of Valuable Works. 



GENERAL HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION 

In Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire, to the French Revolution* 

By M. Guizot, Professor of History to the Faculty des Lettres of Pans-. 

Printed from the second English edition, with Occasional Notes, by C. S. 

Henry, D.D., of New York. One handsome volume, 12mo. $1 00. 

The third edition of this valuable work has just appeared, with numer- 
ous and useful notes, by Professor Henry, of the University of New-York. 
M. Guizot, -in his instructive lectures has given an epitome of Modern His- 
tory, distinguished by all the merits which in another department, renders 
Blackstone a subject of such peculiar and unbounded praise ; a work close- 
ly condensed, including no.hmg useless and omitting nothing essential: 
written with grace, and conceived and arranged with consummate ability. 

THE NATURAL. HISTORY OF SOCIETY 

IN THE BARBAROUS AND CIVILIZED STATE. 
An Essay towards Discovering the Origin and Course of Human Improve- 
ment. By W. Cooke Taylor, LL.D., &c, of Trinity College, Dublin. 
Handsomely printed on fine paper. 2 vols. 12mo $2' 25. 
"The design of this work is to determine, from an examination of the 
various forms in which society has been found, what was the origin of 
civiiizatiofi ; and under what circumstances those attributes of humanity 
which m one country become the foundation of social happiness, are in an=- 
other perverted to the production of general misery.' 

CARLYLE ON HISTORY &, HEROES. 

On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and the Heroic in History. Six Lectures, re- 
ported with Emendations and Additions, by Thomas Carl vie, author of 
the French Revolution, Sartor Resartus, &c. Elegantly printed in 1 
vol. 12mo. Second edition. $1 00. 

" And here we must close a work — such as we have seldom seen the 
like of, and one which redeems the literature of our superficial and manu- 
facturing period. It is one to purify our nature, expand our ideas, and ex* 
alt our souls. Let no library or book-room be without it ; the more it is 
studied the more it will be esteemed."— Literary Gazette. 

SOUTHEY'S POETICAL. WORKS. 

The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Southey, Esq., LL.D. The ten 
volume London edition in one elegant royal 8vo. volume, with a fine por- 
trait and vignette. $3 50. 

*,* This edition, which the author has arranged and revised with the 
same care as if it were intended for posthumous publication, includes many 
pieces which either have never before been collected, or have hitherto re- 
mained unpublished. 

SCHLEGEL'S PHILOSOPHY OF 
HISTORY. 

The Philosophy of History, in a course of Lectures delivered at Vienna, by 
Frederick von Schlegel, translated from the German, with a Memoir of 
the Author, bv J. B. Robertson. Handsomely, printed on fine paper. 2 
vols. 12mo. $2 50. 

THELIFEOF ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 

Edited by his son, John C. Hamilton. 2 vols. 8vo. $5 00. 
"We cordially recommend the perusal and diligent study of these vol- 
umes, exhibiting as thev do, much valuable matter relative to the Revo- 
lution, the establishment of the Federal Constitution, and other important 
events in the annals of our country.*— New-York Review. 



D. Appleton $ Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works* 11 

THE NEW PURCHASE; 

Or, Seven and a Half Years in the Far West. By Robert Carlton, Esq. 

Alter et Idem. 

Two handsome volumes 12mo. $1 50. 

%* This work is characterized by much original humour and information. 

A GALLOP AMONG AMERICAN SCENERY. 

By Augustus E. Silliman. Oue elegantly printed volume. 16mo. 75 cents, 

THE AMERICAN IN EGYPT. 

With Rambles through Arabia-PetrEea and the Holy Land, during the 

years 1839-40. 
By James Ewing Cooley. Illustrated with numerous Steel Engravings, 
also Etchings and Designs by Johnston. One handsome volume, octavo, of 
610 pages. $2 00. Cheap edition, paper covers, $1 00. 

" No other volume extant can jdve the reader so true a picture of what he would be likely 
to eee and meet in Egypt. No other book is more practical and plain in its picture of precisely 
•what the traveller himself will meet. Other writers have one account to give of their jour- 
ney on paper, and another to relate in conversation. Mr. Cooley has but one story for tha 
fireside circle and the printed page."— Brother Jonathan. 

THE FLAG SHIP ; 

OR A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, 

In the United States Frigate Columbia, attended by her consort, the Sloop of 
War John Adams, and bearing the broad pennant of Commodore George C. 
Read. By Fitch W. Taylor, Chaplain to the Squadron. 2 vols. 12mo. 
plates. $2 50. 

TOUR THROUGH TURKEY AND PERSIA. 

Narrative of a Tour through Armenia, Kurdistan, Persia and Mesopotamia, 
with an introduction and Occasional Observations upon the Condition of 
Mohammedanism and Christianity in those countries. By the Rev. Horatio 
Southgate, Missionary of the American Episcopal Church. 2 vols. 12mo. 
plates. $2 00. 

SCOTLAND AND THE SCOTCH; 

OR THE WESTERN CIRCUIT. 
By Catharine Sinclair, Author of Modern Accomplishments, Modern Society, 
&c. &c. 1 vol. 12mo. $0 75. 

SHETLAND AND THE SHETLANDERS ; 

OR THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT. 
By Catharine Sinclair, Author of Scotland and the Scotch, Holiday House, 
&c. &c. 1 vol. 12mo. $0 87i. 

HANDY ANDY . — a tale of irish life. 

By Samuel Lover, author of " Rory O'More," " The Gridiron," &c. Illustrated 
with twenty -two characteristic illustrations from designs by the Author. One 
handsome volume, cloth gilt. §1 25. The same in boards, $1 00. The 
eame with only two plates, in paper covers, 50 cents. 

WITH TVv T EXTY-THREE ILLUSTRATIONS BY DICK KITCAT, ^ 

THE FORTUNES OF HECTOR O'HALLORAN, 

AND HIS MAN MARK ANTONY o'TOOLE, 1 

By W. H. MAXWELL, Esq. 
One elegant volume, cloth gilt, $ 1 25, in boards, $1 00 — in paper covers wit&t 

k only two plates, 50 cents. 



12 D. Appleton <J- Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 

HISTORY OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE* 
Translated from the French of M. Laurent De L'Ardeche, Mem- 
ber of the Institute of France. Illustrated with Five Hundred 
Spirited Plates, after designs by Horace Vernet, and twenty 
Original Portraits of the most distinguished Generals of France, 
2 vols. 8vo. $4 00. 

All the leading journals have spoken in the most unqualified 
praise of this work. The following is from the Boston Traveller : 

"As a chaste, condensed, faithful, and accurate memoir of the Great Captain, it is worthy of 
much attention. The author has mainly drawn the necessary facts of his history from the letters, 
speeches, manifestoes, bulletins, and other Btate papers of Napoleon, and has given a considerable 
number of these in his text. 

" The work is superior to the long verbose productions of Scott and Bourrienne— not in style 
alone, but in truth— being written to please neither Charles X. nor the English aristocracy— but 
for the cause of freedom. It has advantages over every other memoir extant." 

THE BOOK OF THE NAVY; 

Comprising a General History of the American Marine, and parti- 
cular Accounts of all the most Celebrated Naval Battles, from the 
Declaration of Independence to the present time, compiled from 
the best authorities. By John Frost, Professor of Belles Lettres 
in the High School of Philadelphia. With an Appendix, con- 
taining Naval Songs, Anecdotes, &c. Embellished with nume- 
rous original Engravings and Portraits of distinguished Naval 
Commanders. Complete in one handsome volume, 8vo. $1 00. 

" This elegant volume is dedicated to the present Secretary of the Navy, and is altogether a very 
faithful and historical record. It comprises twenty -two chapters, detailing the prominent events 
con«eeted with the naval history of the .American federal republic. To the narrative is subjoined 
an appendix of seventy pages, including thirty -two very interesting characteristic anecdotes, nine- 
teen lyrical poems, and a minute chronological table of events in American Naval History. It is 
appropriately adorned with steel engraved'portraits, numerous vignettes, and full page representa- 
tions of various conflicts. The Book of the Navy deserves, and will doubtless have, a very extend- 
ed circulation." — National Intelligencer, 

INCIDENTS OF A WHALING VOYAGE. 

To which is added Observations on the Scenery, Manners, and 
Customs, and Missionary Stations of the Sandwich and Society 
Islands, accompanied by numerous plates. By Francis Allyn 
Olmsted. One handsome volume, 12mo. $1 50. 
PICTORIAL VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 

The Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver Goldsmith. Elegantly illus- 
trated with nearly 200 Engravings, making a beautiful volume, 
octavo, of about 350 pages. $1 25. 

"We love to turn back over these rich old classics of our own language, and rejuvinate ourselves 
by the never-failing associations which are-perusal always calls up. Let any one who has not 
read this immortal tale for fifteen or twenty years, try the experiment, and we will warrant, that ha 
rises up from the task — the pleasure we should have said — a happier and a better man." —Sav. Rep. 

PICTORIAL ROBINSON CRUSOE. 

The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel De 
Foe. With a Memoir of the Author, and an Essay on his 
Writings, illustrated with nearly 500 spirited Engravings, by 
the celebrated French artist, Grandvilie, forming one elegant 
volume, octavo, of 500 pages. $1 75. 

M Was there ever anything written by mere man that the reader wiahod longer, excep* Robinson 
Crusoe, Don Quixotte, and the Pilgrim's Progress?" — Dr. Johnson. 

" How happy that this, the most moral of romances, is not only the most charming of books but, 
the most instructive, "— A, Chalmers* 



D. Applet on cj- Co: 8 Catalogue of Valuable Works. 13 

A DICTIONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES AND MINES, 

Containing a clear exposition of their Principles and Practice. By Andrew 
Ure, M.D., F.R.S., &c. &c. Illustrated icith One Thousand Two Hundred 
and Forty-one Engravings on wood. Containing upwards of 130U closely 
printed pages, forming one very thick volume 8vo., strongly bound in 
sheep. $5 00. TTT" The same work bound in two volumes. $5 50. 

In every point of view a work like the present can but be regarded as a benefit done to theo- 
retical and practical science, to commerce an;) industry, and an important addition to a spe- 
cies of literature the exclusive production of the present century, and the present state of 
peace and civilization. Criticisms in favour of its intrinsic value to all classes of the commu- 
nity might be prodaced, if space would permit, from upwards of three hundred of the leading 
journals in Europe and tins couutrj'. 

" This useful and most excellent work, which has been issuing in Monthly Numbers, for 
some lime past, is now completed. It is a publication of most decided and permanent value, 
one of which no library should be destitute. It is filled with information upon precise ly those 
subjects with which every one should be familiar, upon the practical operations of the arts, 
the scientific princip??3 and processes of mechanics, and the history of all improvements in 
every departmeot of Science and Industry. The author is a man of e:ninence and ability, and 
the work enjoys the highest reputation in England, where it was fir.-t published. We trust 
it will be welcomed by the intelligent of every class of our citizens. It is neatly printed, and 
illustrated with upwards of twelve hundred engravings." — N. Y. Tribune. 

HYDRAULICS AND MECHANICS. 
A Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and other Machines for 
Raising Water, including the Steam and Fire Engines, ancient and mod- 
ern ; with Observations on various subjects connected with the Mechanic 
Arts; including the Progressive Development of the Steam-Engine, 
Descriptions of every variety of Bellows, Piston, and Rotary Pumps, 
Fire Engines, Water Rams, Pressure Engines, Air Machines, Eolipiles, 
&c. Remarks on Ancient Wells, Air Beds, Cog Wheels, Blowpipes, 
Bellows of various People, Magic Goblets, Steam Idols, and other Ma- 
chinery of Ancient Temples. To which are added Experiments on Blow- 
ing and Spouting Tubes, and other original Devices, Nature's modes and 
Machinery for Raising Water. Historical notices respecting Siphons, 
Fountains, Water Organs, Ciopsydrce, Pipes, Valves, Cocks, &c. Tn five 
books. Illustrated by nearly Three Hundred Engravings. By Thomas 
Bwbank. One handsomely printed volume of six hundred pages. $3 50. 

HODGE ON THE STEAM-ENGINE. 

The Steam-Engine, its Origin and Gradual Improvement, from the time of 
Hero to the present day, as adapted to Manufactures, Locomotion and 
Navigation. Illustrated with Forty-eight Plates in full detail, numerous 
Wood Cuts, &c. By Paul R. Hodge, C.E. 1 vol. folio of plates, and 
letter-press in Svo, $10 00. 

LAFEVER'S MODERN ARCHITECTURE. 

Beauties of Modern Architecture : consisting of Forty-eight Plates of Ori- 
ginal Designs, with Plans, Elevations and Sections, also a Dictionary 
of Technical Terms ; the whole forming a complete Manual for the Prac 
tical Builder. By M. Lafever, Architect. 1 vol. large 8vo. half bound. 
$6 00. 

LAFEVER'S STAIR-CASE AND HAND-RAIL 
CONSTRUCTION. 

The Modern Practice of Stair-case and Hand-rail Construction, practically 
explained, in a series of Designs. By M. Lafever, Architect. With 
Plans and Elevations for Ornamental Villas. Fifteen Plates. 1 vol. 
large 8vo. $3 00, 

The works of Lafever are pronounced by practical men to be the most useful ever pub« 
lished. 

THE PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSIS. 

By Marshall Hall, M.D. F.R.S., &c. Second Edition, with many improve- 
ments. By Dr. John A. Sweet. 1 vol. 8vo. $2 00. 



14 J). Appletvn # Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Works. 

MINIATURE CLASSICAL LIBRARY. 

This unique Library will comprise the best works of the best 
authors in prose and poetry ; published in an elegant form, 
with a beautiful frontispiece, tastefully ornamented. The 
following are now ready : 

GOLDSMITH. —Essays on Various Subjects. By Oliver Gold- 
smith. 37i cents. 

GOLDSMITH.— The Vicar of Wakefield. By Oliver Goldsmith. 
37§- cents. 

JOHNSON.— The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. 
A Tale. By Samuel Johnson, LL.D. 37i cents. 

COTTI N.— Elizabeth, or, the Exiles of Siberia. By Madame 
Cottin. The extensive popularity of this little Tale is well known. 31i cts. 

TOKEN OF REMEMBRANCE. 
TOKEN OF AFFECTION. 
TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP. 
TOKEN OF THE HEART. 

Each volume consists of appropriate Poetical extracts from the principal 
writers of the day. 31£ each. 

PURE GOLD FROM THE RIVERS OF WISDOM. A collection 
of short extracts on religious subjects from the older writers, Bishop Hall, 
Sherlock, Barrow, Paley, Jeremy Taylor, &c. 3U c«nts. 

ST. PIERRE.— Paul and Virginia. From the French of J. B. H 
De St. Pierre. 31± cents. 

H. MO R E'S Private Devotions. Complete. 31i cents. 

THE SEASONS— By James Thomson. 37* cents. 

GEMS FROM AMERICAN POETS.— 37* cents. 

CLARKE'S Scripture Promises. Complete. 37* cents. 
"V* These volumes will be followed by others of attested merit. 

^lKJlE ®z&!2@'[K] c u P [gK© ®F dKI@.[L/^KI© 3 Their Position in 
Society, Character, and Responsibilities. By Mrs . Ellis, author of " The 
Women of England." Complete in one handsome volume, 12mo. 50 cts 

VIKIlE WQWg© ®F [^©-[L^K]© B Their relative Duties, Do 
mestic Influences and Social Obligations. By Mrs. Ellis, author of 
" The Women of England," 4 ' The Daughters of England." In one 
handsome volume, 12mo. 50 cents. 

IFiXJg W©R0l!KJ ©F [EKl^iL^KI® 3 Their Social Duties and 
Domestic Habits. By Mrs. Ellis. One handsome volume, 12mo. 50 cts. 

In! ®BBil[l ^©^©^^[lOKIa By Isaac Taylor, author of "Natural 
History of Enthusiasm," <fec. &c. Second edition. 1 vol. 12mo. $1 00. 
tl In this volume the general principles of Education, as applicable to private families and 
to small schools, are stated and explained ; such methods of treatment, especially, being sug- 
gested as are best suited to the circumstances of a country residence; at the same time, hints 
are offered of a kind to be available under any circumstances for carrying on the culture of 
(hose of the intellectual faculties that are the earliest developed, and on the due expansion of 
which the force and efficiency of the mature mind depend," 

"Avery enlightened, just, and Christian view of a moat important subject." — American 
Biblical Repository . 

[La^Q^^^aOKI© ©^ H 33 MAM K?©P©^Q[i[I[LQW a 

By Francis Wayland, D.D. Second edition, 1 vol. 18mo. 

FHV©a©A!L ™i©[rW @F A MOTH UK [LQFSa By 
Isaac Taylor, author of Natural History of Enthusiasm." Third edition. 
1 vol. 12mo. 87^ cents. 

ts One of the most learned and extraordinary works of modem times." 



D. Applelon c{- Co.'s Catalogue of Valuable Work*. lb 
A LIBRARY FOR MY YOUNG COUNTRYMEN, 

This Library is confided to the editorial care of one of the most successful 
writers of the day, and commends itself as presenting to the readers of this 
country a collection of books, chiefly confined to American subjects of his- 
torical interest. 

Tnc following volumes are now read'u price 37=- cents each. 
THE LIFE AM) ADVENTURES OF HENRI" HUDSON. By the author 

of " Uncle Philip." "Virginia,'' etc. 
ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH; Founder of Virginia. By 

the author of " Henrv Hudson," &c. 
DAWNING S OP GENIUS. By Anne Pratt, author of "Flowers and their 

Associations. " tSre. 
LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF HERMAN CORTES. By the author of 

the " Adventures of Captain John Smith, v etc. 
THE ADVENTURES OF DANIEL BOONE, the Kentucky Rifleman. By 

the author of " Henry Hudson," &c. 

IXL7* Several other volumes are in immediate preparation. 

EVENINGS WITH THii CHRONICLERS; 

Or Uncle Rupert's Tales of Chivalry. By R. M. Evans. With many Illus- 
trations. 1 vjl. IGmo.j elegantly bound. $0 75. 
" This wouli have been a volume after oar own hearts, while we were younger, and it Is scarcely 

less so now when we bi - 

THE HISTORY OF JOAN OF ARC. 

By R. M. Evans, author of " Evenings with the Chroniclers," with twenty- 
four elegant Illustrations. 1 vol. 16mo. Extra gilt. $U 75. 

"The incident upon which this work is founded, is one of the most interesting and remarkable 
that history has pre^rveA to us." — Albany Advertiser. 

" SPRING, SUMMER, AUTDIN, AND WINTER. 

The Juvenile Naturalist ; or Walks in the Country. By the Rev. B. H. Draper. 
A beautiful volume, with nearly fifty plates. 2 vols, square, handsomely 
bound. $0 50 each. 

THE YOUNG ISLANDERS. 

A Tale of the Last Century. By Jeffreys Taylor. 1vol. 16nio., beautifully 
illustrated. 75 cents. This fascinating and elegantly illustrated volume 
for the young, is pronounced to be equal, if not superior to De Foe's immor- 
tal work, " lvobinsou Crusoe." 

KEIGHTLEY'S MYTHOLOGY FOR SCHOOLS. 

The Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy, designed for the use of Schc 

By Thomas Keightiey. Numerous wood-cut Illustrations. 1 vol. ISmo. 
half bound. 44 cents. 

HAZEH'S SYMBOLICAL SPELLING BOOK. 

The Symbolical Spelling-Book , in two parts. By Edw. Hazeu. Containing 
288 engravings. 18f £ents. This work is used in upwards of 1000 different 
Schools, and pronounced to be one of the best -works published. 

THE BOY'S MANUAL 

Comprising a Summary View of the Studies, Accomplishments, and Principles 
of Conduct, best suited for promoting Respectability and Success in Life. 
Elegantly engraved frontispiece. 1 vol. ISmo. 50 cents. 

THE GIRL'S MAHUAL 

Comprising a Summary View of Female Studies, Accomplishments, and Prin- 
ciples of Conduct. Beautiful fro&tis piece. 1 vol. 18mo. 50 cents. 

THE OLD OAE TREE. 

A ippat :n:rrc::::; :.-.: instruction for youth ; illustrated 

b nearly fifty plates 



16 
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TALES FOR THE PEOPLE 

AND THEIR CHILDREN. 



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THE POPLAR GROVE ; or, Little Harry and his Uncle Benjamin, 

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&ARLY FRIENDSHIPS. By Mrs. Copley. 37* cents. 
THE CROFTON BOYS. By Harriet Martineau. 37* cents. 
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NORWAY AND THE NORWEGIANS ; or, Feats on th'e Fiord. By 

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NO SENSE LIKE COMMON SENSE. By Mary Howitt. 
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By Mis. Ellis. 37* cents. 
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MINISTER'S FAMILY; or, Hints to those who would make Home 

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